When people think of therapy animals, they often think about dogs. But in recent years miniature horses have been found to be beneficial for therapy as well. Miniature horses are quite effective in helping the sick, elderly or those suffering from challenges, such as depression and anxiety. More and more these small equines are venturing out to hospitals, schools, nursing homes and rehab facilities. They are quite intelligent and are known to have calm temperaments. Minis are very intuitive at sensing the emotions of others, and work towards building a connection with those around them. They can help with self-esteem, relaxation and stress, self-control and happiness, as well as many other areas.
Miniature Horse History
These little equines first originated in the 1700’s in Europe to help pull carts for cole miners and be companions for the wealthy. Mini horses are small and range from 26” to 34” tall, and vary in weight anywhere from 100-300 pounds. There are different breeds, colors and patterns associated with these tiny horses. In 1978, the American Miniature Horse Association started to recognize these small equines as separate from ponies and larger horses. You can read more about the miniature horse and their history here at http://American miniature horse association.
Our Horse Therapy Program
Joyful Hooves is our miniature horse therapy program. We have a mini rescue horse named Stanley. Stanley is about 17 years old and is a retired lead line horse. He became a permanent addition to our homestead in December of 2020. Stanley has spent the last year and half training to be a therapy horse. Besides the basic ground work, he has learned to move through small spaces, navigate stairs and be around walkers. Much time was spent on desensitization to noises, other animals, moving doors and different types of equipment. Stanley spends his days around different animals and people which has helped in his journey towards being a therapy animal.
Visit our horse therapy website at http://joyfulhooves.com
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