Therapy pony is the 'mane' attraction at Inverness care home
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THERE were ‘neigh’ problems for residents of an Inverness care home when an unusual visitor turned up.
Shetland pony Edward made a lot of new friends during a pet therapy session at Meallmore’s Culduthel Care Home.
Owner Sandi Elliot has been taking the seven-year-old to meet new people – which she calls pony parties – for more than a year after a friend asked if she could bring him to a child’s birthday party.
Miss Elliot, who is a nursing assistant in Raigmore Hospital’s A&E department, was inspired to start pet therapy after seeing how happy Edward made people.
“I always knew he was something special,” she said.
“He’s wonderful, he loves being petted and he goes straight up to the patients and puts his head on their beds.
“At parties he even lets the little children dress him up and paint him with glitter.”
Care home manager Denise Scott said: “It’s not every day you get a pony wandering through the home, so it was lovely for the residents to have an opportunity to enjoy his company.
“As well as being fun and interesting, animal therapy is also hugely important for our residents as it’s relaxing and can be a very social activity.
“The pony really lifted everyone’s spirits and was adorable.”
When not at pony parties, Miss Elliot takes Edward for walks around Culloden Battlefield where she said he is very popular with tourists.
Besides Edward, she also has a family of four donkeys which she hopes to take to therapy sessions in the future.
