Miniature Shetland Ponies as Therapy Dogs?

When Poppy and Tinks do the rounds at the local senior care home, jumping up on beds for a quick cuddle isn’t an option. Because unlike the usual pint-sized pups and purring pusses that one might expect to find assuming the service animal role, this furry duo is a tad larger. And much heavier.

You see, they’re miniature Shetland ponies that stand just 30 inches tall.Perfect for nuzzling a senior with dementia or going eye-to-eye with a wheelchair-bound patient. However, with each weighing in at close to 200 pounds, they’re not exactly lap-dog material.

Size aside, aside, these mini equine aids are just like their canine counterparts when it comes to craving attention, love of endless head scratches, and having an affinity for delivering that special, one-on-one interaction that’s so important for seniors and dementia patients.

In fact, similar to specially trained therapy dogs, Poppy and Tinks have highly distinctive personalities. This means before making any visit to a care home, special school, or hospital, owner Sarah Woodland visits to assess the set-up and more importantly, the needs of the individuals the ponies will be spending time with. And she readily confirms that Poppy tends to be the superstar when it comes to sussing out who needs a little extra boost that day.

"Animals have a special way about them. It's lots of different things — it's the empathy and communication," says Woodland.

So, with today’s primary focus on training canines of all shapes and sizes to be service and mental health support dogs, how did this owner of Dinky Ponies connect the dots and think to involve her Miniature Shetlands?

Retired and looking for a new passion, Woodland’s love for all things “horse” resulted in her opening up the pint-sized pony farm that catered primarily to kids’ parties. In the winter of 2022, seasonal demand had dropped off, so Woodland started to think about providing freelance therapy visits to some of the local hospitals and long-term care facilities. The response was immediate and highly positive, and the demand has only grown since then.

Crediting some of her success to the lingering effects of COVID lockdowns and lack of social interaction, Woodland states, "It's totally taken off, and it’s lovely to see the amazing impact the animals have on people.”

With a stable of seven therapy ponies – each with their own special niche of care delivery – she confirms the minis are so comfortable with the visits that they’re even able to use the elevators to move between floors. Meaning that reaching children’s wards, is easier to do. As for the kids’ parties? Not so much anymore.