mitey riders
Legacy & Vision //
Legacy
Founding Principles //
Mitey Riders was built on the belief that children’s lives could be strengthened through horses.
Four guiding principles shaped the program that would become Mitey Riders:
– A belief in the power of horses to change lives
– A belief in the value of community
– A belief that therapeutic riding can help riders achieve life goals both on and off the farm
– A belief in high standards of service for our riders and care for our horses
These principles shape all we do at Mitey Riders.
TIMELINE
History & Vision
1969
Misty Meadows Farm
Misty Meadows was established as an 80-acre Saddlebred horse farm where champions were born and raised. Harry and Marilyn Swimmer became very successful breeders and competitors in the Saddlebred industry. They truly enjoyed their small piece of paradise in Charlotte, North Carolina.
1993
When Harry Met Stacy
Harry met a young girl named Stacy whose movement and hearing were impaired from her cerebral palsy. Harry lifted Stacy onto one of his veteran horses, and her face lit up. Her energy changed, and in that, so did Harry’s. It was that same year, he and Marilyn decided to open up their property to children with special needs and thus, Misty Meadows Mitey Riders was born.
2020 & BEYOND
Vision
Over the past 25+ years, Mitey Riders has become a place where children with disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy to Down syndrome to autism have the ability to experience the freedom that the back of a horse provides. Our vision is to continue our work, spreading the benefit of therapeutic riding, long into the future.
Founders
Harry & the Farm //
Misty Meadows Farm, Inc., located just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, features over eighty acres of green pastures, manicured trails and pristine black rail fencing, and is also home to many four-legged creatures. But the heart of this property lies with Harry and Marilyn Swimmer, who turned their big-time Saddlebred showing and breeding facility into a place of opportunity for children with special needs.
With the help of long-time family friend Joy Simon, they launched the program with a handful of horses and riders. Now, over 25 years later, Misty Meadows Farm is still home to our PATH International Premier Accredited Center for therapeutic horseback riding.
The Swimmers felt strongly that as long as the community could provide the resources to run the program, no family should have to pay for the child to ride. The Mitey Riders program has been free to riders since the beginning.
And so, every week, hundreds of individuals gather to make the Mitey Riders program happen and to spread joy to our riders.
501(c)(3) non-profit
A PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center for Therapeutic Riding
Call Us
(704) 814-6627 (Fax)
Visit Us
455 Providence Rd. South, Waxhaw, NC 28173
Email Us
ridewithus@miteyriders.org