Tiny ponies, big impact in care homes

Two ponies on a morning drive

Sarah Woodland, a horse groom, noticed two Miniature Shetland Ponies in a field during her commute just after the pandemic. She tracked down their owner and was eventually given both ponies.

Finding work for small horses

Woodland didn't want the ponies to be field ornaments. She started hosting parties and one-to-one handling sessions in pub car parks and fields, learning to run a business from scratch.

Testing ponies indoors

Wondering if her ponies could work inside buildings, Woodland brought one to a children's day care to test how it would cope indoors and with children. There were no problems.

First visit to a nursing home

Woodland called a nursing home and asked if she could bring a pony to visit elderly residents. She had no care home experience but imagined it would be a lovely treat. The residents loved it.

From side project to full-time work

Four years later, Woodland now has seven Miniature Shetland Ponies and visits care homes and residential homes regularly. It has become her full-time job and full-time passion.

Learning from mistakes

Woodland faced unexpected challenges with no model to follow. She learned that the ponies' feet slip on laminate floors and found shoes that work. She treats them as working animals deserving respect.

“As the ponies' feet are quite slippery on laminate floors, I've finally found shoes for them that don't look silly.”

Building trust with the ponies

Woodland trains her ponies to trust her completely, using positive reinforcement like mints when they enter elevators. She stays calm because the intelligent animals mirror her emotional state.

“When I take the ponies into a building, they totally trust me. They know I wouldn't put them in a position where they'd feel unsafe.”

Understanding care home residents

Woodland learned she needed to understand what people in care homes need. She limits visits to one hour for the ponies' welfare and revisits throughout the year so different residents get quality time.

Unexpected emotional reactions

Elderly residents laugh and sometimes cry when they see the ponies. Woodland cannot fully explain why they respond so strongly, but suspects their tiny, foal-like size triggers something profound.

“They laugh, and sometimes they cry when they see them. You never know what the reaction will be.”

Children adore the ponies too

Woodland also visits residential homes for children with special needs and nurseries. She brings her own sons along and feels proud watching them guide the ponies and interact with the children.

Living her dream

Woodland says the work has been incredibly hard and not hugely profitable, but equally fulfilling. She would not want to do anything else right now and is making ponies and people happy.

“I'm living my dream, making ponies and people happy all at once.”