Care home resident regains her speech after pony therapy

A pony called Magic has been changing care home residents’ lives, and even managed to get one resident, who had been struggling to communicate, to speak a whole sentence.

Pony therapy is an innovative therapy which is growing in popularity as care homes start to realise how beneficial it can be. Staff have seen residents who are agitated and distressed quickly become calm when the pony enters the room.

The Chimneys Residential Care Home in Rugby has had two visits from the pony and the home found Magic particularly helped the residents with dementia.

“We have several residents who find interaction via verbal communication difficult, but when Magic visited, one resident actually communicated verbally in a whole sentence, to see this happen just by touching Magic was an amazing moment,” says Tracey Foster, manager of the home.

Debbie Sims, who owns Magic and runs a pony assisted therapy business, is not surprised at the impact pony therapy has had on people in care homes.

She says: “The sight of a pony entering a room has an immediate effect on most people. Horses are powerful, beautiful animals and not a lot of people get to be up close and working alongside a pony, especially in the clients’ own environment where they feel comfortable and safe.

“A horse is a very expressive animal so for a person to gain a horse’s trust and be able to communicate and work on small achievements alongside such a powerful animal is a very positive experience.”

Magic also “provides a very confidential ear to anyone who feels unable to talk, as Magic is the best secret keeper there is and his fluffy mane is great for soaking away tears”.

She has found that often care home residents may start off feeling nervous, “so a small pony is the perfect size. One of the reasons that pony therapy works so well is that everyone has a reaction to horses, nobody is indifferent. People will either love them or fear them so that’s two big emotions which immediately reflect what most of life's issues revolve around”.

Acorn Lodge care home in Nuneaton has also had a few visits from Magic. “We have had Debbie and Magic in a few times now and on every occasion they have enjoyed it. Magic will go into the bedrooms for people that are bed bound and also in the lift,” says Angie Coulton, its activities coordinator.

Richmond Bede Village Care Centre in Bedworth is another fan of Magic with Louise Smith, village advisor and activities manager, saying “the care centre residents loved Magic, he was very gentle and really did seem to have a positive effect during his time with us. Debbie was great, really friendly and patient and Magic was fantastic, tender and nice natured.”

For more information on Magic and pony therapy go to www.rainbowsendmagic.com/#