Tiny Ponies, Big Smiles, Lincolnshire

Funded on
28 Jul 2025

Tiny Ponies, Big Smiles offers uniquely engaging one-to-one therapy pony visits to Lincolnshire's care homes, promoting health, communication, and well-being for residents indoors or outdoors.

£11,828 Raised of £11,750

33 Backers

100%

Costs

Transport costs £2,940
Project manager £2,466
Lead facilitator £2,018
Session assistant £1,792
Horse care costs £834
Licence and insurance £317
Staffing costs £263
Target: (inc. fees) £11,750

https://www.rainbowdreaming.co.uk/

Rainbow Dreaming CIC provides therapy pony visits to care homes in, & around, Skegness, Lincolnshire. The organisation was formed in September 2021 after taking my pony to visit my mother in a local care home & seeing the positive impact it had. Mum suffered with dementia & quite literally came back to life when she saw the pony - the effect on other residents was equally amazing.

Care home staff work hard to provide suitable activities for their residents, yet many homes simply do not have the budget to fund regular visits from external agencies. When they do, these tend to be singers, or to provide physical activities such as chair exercises. In contrast, interacting with animals can be incredibly comforting & non-judgmental. Unfortunately, other equine therapy providers require individuals to travel to their location, which means that many care home residents are disadvantaged & unable to benefit from interacting with these wonderful animals.

The effects of animal therapy are well understood – blood pressure, stress & anxiety seem to reduce, communication & interaction improve during contact with the ponies, & the mood of residents (& visitors & staff) is lifted. This is particularly noticeable with residents who are bed-bound, have dementia or other complex needs, or who are generally withdrawn. Interacting with the ponies stimulates conversation, even from the quietest of residents, & many enjoy reminiscing about animals they’ve had, or have worked with in the past. In addition, many residents who are otherwise sedentary, love stroking & brushing the ponies, often standing up to do so.

Most people take access to animals for granted, but for those in residential care who have previously had animals, the loss of that companionship can leave a huge void that only another animal can fill. Add to this the fact that very few residential settings are equipped to keep any pet much larger than a fish, small mammal or small bird, & it’s no wonder that visits from animals are so popular, & generate so much excitement.

Since 2021, Rainbow Dreaming’s ponies have visited over 55 care homes (many regularly), with more than 1000 individuals benefitting from meeting & interacting with them. Feedback is always positive & care homes report that the sessions are incredibly beneficial in terms of boosting residents’ mental health & general well-being.

Project Owner: Rainbow Dreaming CIC The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.