Therapy ponies greeted with smiles and cuddles from St John’s Care Home residents

Mansfield Care Homes’ activity coordinators organise a wide and sometimes surprising range of experiences to ensure that care home residents are entertained, engaged and stimulated. At St John’s Care Home in Melrose, activity coordinator Jennifer Craig works with residents to run a programme of celebrations, excursions, events and experiences that everyone can enjoy. St John’s residents recently welcomed miniature Shetland ponies, Wilson and Flicker, to their home, for a visit with lots of cuddles!

“This was the first time that Therapy Ponies Scotland has visited St John’s”, says activities coordinator Jennifer. “It was a great success! Everyone loved the experience, especially when the ponies laid their heads on residents’ knees for a cuddle.”

Wilson and Flicker visit lots of care homes, schools and hospitals across Scotland with their handlers, Elaine and John. The ponies are specially dressed for indoor visits, and wear cloth boots to protect delicate floors and carpets.

“The ponies were very calming and therapeutic”, says Jennifer. “Having them at St John’s cheered everyone up and created such a good mood. There was a great reaction from the residents, and I think that the ponies really enjoyed the attention too!”

Thank you to Mansfield Care staff for the lovely photos.