Therapy
with Minis
Assisted therapy with Miniature horses is not is a new idea , in fact , groups and individuals have been using Miniatures for many years in hospitals , nursing homes , schools and have provided comfort to those in hospice care . What is new is the exposure and broad audience this work is now offering the Miniature horse breed . With proper training and attentive handling , it ’ s safe to say a vast majority of Minis could excel at this activity , but the shorter versions of the breed do tend to adapt best to crowded spaces hospital rooms and care facilities afford . Breeders are beginning to aim their smaller foals toward this occupation especially those who seem to be born with quiet , sweet temperaments ; offering an alternative marketing option that was not available a few years ago .
Below is just a sampling of some of the teams of horses and handlers who have been busy reaching out to their communities , sharing their passion for their mini equines and touching one heart at a time .
Being a horse lover myself it is a wonderful experience having the privilege to bring joy , comfort , peace and wellbeing to those that I can and my Minis do it wonderfully !!
Annie ’ s Therapeutic Companions
Named after our beautiful therapy dog , Annie , we are a 501 ( c )( 3 ) nonprofit volunteer based organization consisting of Pet Partners certified teams , from Dublin Texas . My Miniature mare , May Lillie , and I work as a Pet Partners therapy team . We are registered to work in “ complex environments ” which qualifies us to work with people in psychiatric wards / behavioral units and alzheimers patients . I am working with my other Mini , “ Tillie ” to pass the exam and be able to make visits with her also . We currently visit hospitals , nursing and rehabilitation facilities , senior living / assisted living , veterans services , disaster shelters , special needs classes in schools , and occupational therapy facilities that work with special needs children .
We are in the process of getting approved to visit inside our local hospital and Cook Children ’ s with our therapy minis . We currently serve in Erath and surrounding counties but also travel to Plano and Fort Worth . It is a wonderful thing bringing May Lillie into these facilities as the areas we serve are rural . Many of the folks we meet have owned horses or grew up on a farm and are no longer able to care for or own animals , as such they enjoy our visits all the more . There is one gentleman that every time we see him he says , “ Well I ’ ll be darned ”. It is just the greatest thing . When we walk through the doors the expressions we receive from people is priceless !
Mini Blessings Ministries
After a successful career in the show ring , where she earned two AMHA world championships , it seemed a given that Picture Perfect Love Irish Love Song would be destined next for the breeding shed in the hopes of producing more champions . But instead , her breeders — mother-daughter team Robin Cole and Brooke Sheridan of Florida — chose a very different kind of life for their very special horse .
In breeding the tiny silver bay dun , known at home as Cinnabon , Robin realized that they ’ d truly achieved their goal of 15 years , and that it might be time for her life to take another direction , one focused more on relaxation , wild-life watching and photography , rather than the daily responsibility of caring for a herd of miniature horses .
Meanwhile , a Florida 13-year-old was considering a new life , as well — one that depended on finding just the right Miniature horse for a very special job .
JUNE / JULY 2016 Miniature Horse World 19