The idea
Tiny Ponies, Big Smiles is an inclusive therapy service bringing miniature ponies directly to East Lindsey District and Boston Borough Councils' care home residents who may face barriers to accessing other forms of equine therapy due to anxiety, dementia, mobility challenges, or other complex needs. This project will deliver 72 therapy pony visits over a 6 month period to care homes within these areas.
Tailored one-to-one sessions are designed to enhance emotional and physical health, ease stress, and encourage communication, all while spreading joy. Unlike other equine therapy providers who require individuals to visit their premises, and therefore leave the comfort and security of their residence, we ensure accessibility by taking our ponies TO care home residents. We can adapt visits to either indoor or outdoor settings, depending on the weather conditions and the homes' personal preferences.
What we'll deliver
- 72 therapy pony visits to care homes in East Lindsey District and Boston Borough Councils over a 6 month period
- A uniquely engaging experience for care home residents
- Interactive sessions where residents will be encouraged to touch, stroke and even groom the ponies
- The opportunity for residents to reminisce about animals they may have owned or worked with.
- One to one interactions with miniature ponies tailored to individual needs
- We take the ponies TO the residents, so they don't have to leave the comfort of their own four walls
Why it's a great idea
-We take our ponies TO the residents eliminating the need for them to travel
- We offer an inclusive & non-judgmental service, emphasizing a person-centred approach.
-By engaging participants in meaningful activities, we empower them to build confidence, develop new abilities, & connect with others.
- Promoting sensory stimulation through physical interaction with ponies, enhancing cognitive functions.
- Offering a novel & memorable experience, especially for residents who may have limited exposure to animals.
- Encouraging reminiscence & nostalgia, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals with dementia, by triggering positive memories.
- Creating opportunities for staff to bond with residents during shared moments of joy & relaxation.
- Supporting tailored therapeutic outcomes based on individual needs, ensuring each resident gets a personalised benefit.
- Bringing a natural element to urban or confined spaces, improving the environment's overall atmosphere.
Steps to get it done
- Identify care homes to visit
- Arrange visit dates and times
- Carry out visits
- Record therapy visits delivered with feedback from staff and residents
- Update social media with photos and videos from therapy visits (with relevant permissions)
When we consider that over half of the UK population have owned, or do own a pet, it's clear that many care home residents will have had, or worked with animals at some point in their lives prior to leaving their own homes. Add to this the fact that very few care homes are equipped to allow residents to keep any pet much larger than a fish, small mammal, or small bird, and it's little wonder that therapy ponies have such a huge impact on the people they visit.
We offer inclusive and non-judgmental services, emphasizing a person-centred approach. By engaging participants in meaningful activities, we empower them to build confidence, develop new abilities, and connect with others.
Our focus is to provide therapy pony sessions to those individuals who would otherwise not be able to access ponies as a result of their mental, emotional or physical con
