Dominique’s Mission

Dominique’s Smiles is our mission to bring smiles and love into everyone’s life. We visit hospitals, nursing facilities, Ronald McDonald Houses, private homes, schools and wherever else needed to bring hope and sunshine into children and adults’ lives through an exceptional mini horse named Dominique.

A Visit With Vivian

Dear Dominique Smiles,
Thank you so much for the wonderful experience with Dominique. My daughter has never seen a horse but absolutely loved brushing and petting him. The interaction seemed to relax her. Dominique is so gentle that she had no fear of riding him. It was truly a way for her to escape all the fear and pain of her cancer for a few hours. After meeting Dominique, she is now asking for riding lessons!
Thank you again,
Vivian’s Mommy

Dominique visits with Vivian and her sister
Dominique visits with Vivian
Dominique visits with Vivian

Note From Sandy: It is rare I give a child a ride on Dominique. He cannot carry much weight. Vivian is 3 1/2 years old and cancer has been a part of her little life for most of those years. Of course her big sister also received a plush Dominique!

Visiting Baltimore Ronald McDonald House July 26, 2021

Ronald McDonald House programs, located near top children’s hospitals, allow parents who are far from home to stay close to their hospitalized child and benefit from the comforts of home without incurring hotel and food costs.

Dominique was invited to visit the children and their families staying at the Baltimore, MD Ronald McDonald House on July 26.

  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.
  • Dominique after visiting the children and their families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Baltimore, MD on July 26.

Judging by the smiles on the faces of the children in these photos, Dominique did his job well! For the children, it was a welcome break from the daily regime of pain and cancer treatments. For the parents and siblings, it was an opportunity to see the pure joy on their child’s faces as they interacted with Dominique. It was the first time many of them had ever seen a live horse up close.

Each child was given a plush Dominique to keep thanks to the caring people who make donations to Dominique’s Smiles.

Spring Forge Intermediate School Visit

Dominique visited a total of 20 excited students in three classrooms at Spring Forge Intermediate School in Manchester, PA on May 25th! Each class visited Dominique’s website the day before his appearance to learn all about Dominique. The students wrote good questions to ask us when we arrived the next day. After questions were answered, Sandy told a story about how bullying hurts and that it is good to be different using Dominique as an example. Each student received a plush Dominique to remember their visit.

Mrs. Thompson’s Class: Alex Aponte, Star Malave, Ben Alessi, Ava Eisenhour and Alexander Schaeffer
Mrs. Thompson’s Class: Alex Aponte, Star Malave, Ben Alessi, Ava Eisenhour and Alexander Schaeffer
  • Dominique Visiting Students in Mrs. Thompson’s Class
  • Dominique Visiting Students in Mrs. Thompson’s Class
  • Dominique Visiting Students in Mrs. Thompson’s Class
  • Dominique Visiting Students in Mrs. Thompson’s Class
  • Dominique Visiting Students in Mrs. Thompson’s Class
Miss Laird’s Class: Jacob Haapala, (Miss Kayla), Natasha Boltersdorf, (Mrs. Shank), Yandiel Martinez, David Maldonado-Padon, (Miss Laird) and Matao Roldes
Miss Laird’s Class: Jacob Haapala, (Miss Kayla), Natasha Boltersdorf, (Mrs. Shank), Yandiel Martinez, David Maldonado-Padon, (Miss Laird) and Matao Roldes
  • Dominique visits Miss Laird’s Class
  • Dominique visits Miss Laird’s Class
  • Dominique visits Miss Laird’s Class
  • Dominique visits Miss Laird’s Class
  • Dominique visits Miss Laird’s Class
Mrs. Stephens’ Class: Tabitha Gominger, Mason Diffenderfer, AJ Schlasta and Devon Wise
Mrs. Stephens’ Class: Tabitha Gominger, Mason Diffenderfer, AJ Schlasta and Devon Wise
  • Dominique visits Mrs. Stephens’ Class
  • Dominique visits Mrs. Stephens’ Class
  • Dominique visits Mrs. Stephens’ Class
  • Dominique visits Mrs. Stephens’ Class

Park City Center Visit

Even though Dominique has been unable to visit children in hospitals due to COVID-19, nothing stops us from making people smile! On a recent visit to Park City Center in Lancaster, where we brought lots of excitement, we were joined by Abby Romberger, Pennsylvania Teen Miss United States Agriculture. Dominique brought smiles to people of all ages.

  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique's Park City Center Visit
  • Park City Center Visit
  • Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique Visiting Park City Center
  • Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique Visits Park City Center
  • Dominique Visits Park City Center
  • Dominique Visits Park City Center
  • Park City Center Visit
  • Park City Center Visit
  • Dominique Visits Park City Center
  • Dominique Visits Park City Center
  • Dominique Visits Park City Center
  • Dominique Leaving Park City Center Visit
Sandy and Abby with plush Dominique toy that children receive during visits.
Sandy and Abby

Our trips to Park City Center help keep Dominique tuned up for when he can finally visit children in hospitals. Abby shows off the 8″ plush horse every child receives during our visit.

Visiting Karen Blevins

The following story is what Dominique’s Smiles is all about for children, adults, and families in many timeless ways – replacing the hurt and pain with good memories.

Dominique visited Karen Blevins a few days before Christmas in 2020 and brought her a plush mini-horse. To see her joy and the smile on her face was very humbling. Karen passed on in May.

Dominique visited Karen Blevins a few days before Christmas in 2020 and brought her a plush mini-horse.
Dominique visited Karen Blevins a few days before Christmas in 2020 and brought her a plush mini-horse.
Dominique visited Karen Blevins a few days before Christmas in 2020 and brought her a plush mini-horse.

Christmas is too often associated with giving gifts. We tend to think we must spend hundreds of dollars to find the perfect gift for our loved ones. Sometimes the gift of a smile is the greatest gift we can give to those we love as well as folks we’ve just met. True to his mission, Dominique provided Christmas smiles this week to Karen Blevins who is house bound with multiple health problems. As you can see, Karen’s husband Donald could not help but smile as well. Thank you Dominique and Sandy for making Karen’s day! ~ Beth Innerst.

Visiting Anne Wagner

Anne Wagner, a horsewoman icon in York County, PA agreed to be our very first home visit. She knew how much this mission meant to me. We have shared many laughs over the years, and this was one more!

Dominique and Sandy visiting Anne Wagner
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