Service users and staff across our male, female and older people’s mental health units recently enjoyed a very special visit from two four-legged friends, Peanut and Wizzle, trained Pets at Therapy Ponies from Dartmoor Carriages.
Animal-assisted activities have been shown to provide a range of benefits for people experiencing mental health difficulties. Spending time with pets as therapy animals can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, improve mood and encourage people to connect with staff, visitors and one another – helping to support their overall wellbeing and recovery.
These friendly ponies spent time meeting and greeting service users and staff, bringing smiles, conversation and plenty of memorable moments along the way.
Their visit created a calm and uplifting atmosphere, with many people enjoying the opportunity to stroke, interact with and learn more about the ponies’ history, while also capturing a few selfies of the occasion to share with their families and friends.
Sharon Andrews, Senior Occupational Therapist at the Glenbourne Unit, said: “As OT’s we focus on who you are as a person and what you value. As such we are often reminded that many service users have to be away from their own beloved pets during an admission and how difficult this can be. With this in mind, it was our aim to invite the wonderful therapy ponies to come and visit us all and spread some pony-shaped joy at the Glenbourne unit. Prior to the event, service users engaged in pony-related arts, crafts and creative activities. The whole experience was a great success with many people feeding back how much they had enjoyed and appreciated the afternoon.”
Patients fed back that:
‘’It was great seeing the ponies, they were very therapeutic and I learnt a lot about them. I was shocked that the ponies were here in the first place.”
‘’I had a fab time. They both inspired me xx”
‘’The ponies have emotional loving energy”
‘’They’re GREAT. Please come back”
Charlotte from Dartmoor Carriages added: “To be able to see the service users and the staff become vibrantly alive and in awe of the ponies is just beautiful. It is a pleasure to bring Peanut and Wizzle into the wards, to cheer everyone up but also educate them at the same time. The ponies are wonderful girls with such charismatic personalities that people are so easily drawn to. Thank you for having us.”
The visit highlighted the positive impact that animals can have on wellbeing and demonstrated how small moments of connection can make a big difference to someone’s day.
Livewell would like to thank Dartmoor Carriages, Peanut and Wizzle, for taking the time to visit Glenbourne and for bringing so many smiles to service users and staff.
