Horse Blog

This article was written by Jan Dodds, SA

Can you imagine not being able to go and make a cup of tea for yourself or go outside if you wish without someone taking you there? Worse, can you imagine not ever being able to touch animals if you have been a creature-lover all your life? Well, often that is the case when you become older and infirm . . . unless you live at the Westbeach Residential Care facility in Adelaide South Australia, that is!

Pet therapy is not something new, but usually it is a well trained dog or maybe a ‘ragdoll’ (specific breed) cat, or perhaps some songbirds like canaries or budgies and lovely peaceful, gliding fish in a tank. Can you imagine taking a 16hh horse (Rocco) and a 23 year old pony (Metro) to such a facility? That is what we have done . . . my friend Elaine, myself, and my husband, who was on photographic duties!

Our first visit was to accustom my equine charges to the facility. Neither of these horses are anything ’special’, only to me – they are my best friends and are magnificent. They have had no special training except for being exposed to a wide array of things and situations and a good deal of trust in me. Also, they are obedient . . . their habit is to do what I (considerately) ask them to do. Oh, unless that is Rocco and then grass wins every time! He hears me, acknowledges it, then says, just one more mouthful please!

We entered a small enclosed area (piping, see through fence, about 8ft high) but thankfully with a bit of lawn. My horse, so often ruled by his tummy, immediately felt at home because of the grass. We then entered through another gate into a courtyard with a huge outdoor umbrella and flashy silver watertank, right by the entrance doors to the inside. I am certain my horse in particular, would have cheerfully gone inside had I asked it of him.

Then the residents began to come out . . . “I was in my room, and as I looked out of the window, I saw a horse eating the grass and had to come out and see if I was dreaming”!! That began the steady flow of people.

My Rocco is a very sensitive horse who internalises his emotions and is pretty much a one-person horse who doesn’t tolerate too much fussing over by others. Interestingly however, I have noticed that when it comes to the elderly and infirm, his whole demeanor changes – if they have walking sticks, other mobility devices and wheelchairs etc he is curious and interested, allowing them to stroke him.

Perhaps it is because I have had a total knee replacement and other knee surgery prior to that and he became used to looking after me when I was still on a walking frame. I have put my parents, in their 80s, on him to go for a walking ride and he carefully carries them about the place.

Metro, having taught many a child to ride over the years, came into my care very ‘contained’, but since being with me has learned he is allowed to express his opinions and that I will listen to him.

There were residents quite capable of coming out to see them under their own steam, others with staff looking after them, and even a dear lady in a mobile ‘bedchair’. Our patient horses just stood there interacting with the people, and I have to say, there was a time I needed to turn away to hide the tears of joy and pride in the way my horses were behaving. A staff member picked up the hand of the lady in the bedchair and stroked the horses with her hand. You will notice Metro’s lovely soft and kind eye in the photo above (when most of the time he is still really, just a cheeky little pony!).

Of course, nothing is simple these days, so we needed to have proof of insurance and become registered volunteers . . . the staff think the paperwork mountain is worth it though.

I could write many more words, but I think sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Hopefully, the words I have written gives you some insight into my magical horses and the affect they have had on many peoples’ lives. The photos will allow you to ‘feel’ the moment.

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