My Little Pony: Care Home Residents Plait Horse’s Hair With Ribbons

Residents enjoying visit from miniature horse, Mr Cheddar (Credit: Caters)

An adorable miniature horse trotted into the living room of a care home, to residents’ delight.

The palomino pony, Mr Cheddar, even used the lift to travel between floors!

The residents of Downs House in Petersfield, Hampshire, were enjoying their visit from Pony Pals - a travelling therapeutic initiative.

It takes a team of tiny horses and a mini donkey into nursing homes, hospices and community centres to help raise a smile.

Founder Caroline Seignot, 27, who set it up six years ago, said: “My mum was working in a nursing home and asked if I would bring a pony to visit.

“The weather was awful, so we decided to bring him inside to meet the residents. Noodles took it all in his stride and the reactions on their faces was priceless!”

Caroline realised she would need to housetrain the ponies and teach them to use a lift, to enable less able residents to access the horses.

Residents are encouraged to pat and groom the ponies and plait and thread ribbons in their manes.

The horses are taught to stand still when being groomed, so that they can cope with any situation that might occur.

Caroline said: “Every reaction, great or small, makes the visits wonderful. You never know what memories you have triggered. We get a range of nice reactions, sometimes funny ones.

“Some people throw their arms out and they’re overjoyed to see the pony. Some might not normally communicate with others but they might have that instinct to start to stroke the pony, which you may not have with a dog.

“The ponies are really relaxed and they enjoy it. They love to come and see the residents; to be tickled and told how handsome they are. I think they get just as much out of the visits as the residents do.

“They spend a penny before they go in the horse box, and then wear a nappy inside to catch any droppings!”

Horse-loving resident Caroline Jukes, 90, said: “It’s just lovely - a real joy. I’m an animal person and it brings me happiness.

“I had a lovely horse, but my husband was in the Royal Marines and we went to Hong Kong so I had to leave my horse behind - it was much worse than leaving my parents!”

She was so thrilled by the visit, she reportedly told Mr Cheddar: “You’re much more handsome than Elton John. You can stay, I’ve got plenty of room - we won’t tell anyone.”

Beryl Bunt, who turns 90 next month, said: “It’s a relief to see something other than a human. He’s so lovely and gentle. It’s very soothing for me.”