A pair of cute mini Shetland ponies have been providing animal therapy to care home residents in Wrexham
Among those delighted to see Maise and Oatis at Pendine Park’s Bodlondeb care home was resident Derek Potts who grew up in a blacksmiths.
Their visit was perfectly time because Derek was celebrating his 87th when they came on their visit.
Derek stroked their manes in the garden as his fellow residents joined the staff in singing Happy Birthday to him.
Being able to see the ponies at such close quarters, he said, was the best gift ever.
It had triggered happy memories of his childhood when he would spend hours watching his dad make horse shoes and other agricultural items.
Derek said: “My father was a local blacksmith so I am used to horses and farm animals.
“In later years my daughter Joanne developed a love of horses too and she became an amateur jockey for a while, they were happy days.”
According to Jo Spencer, a director of the therapy ponies enterprise Jubilee Beau Unicorn Equine Project CIC, Maise and Oatis were just like an old married couple.
She said: “These two live together in the same stables and follow each other everywhere. It’s been a joy to witness how their affection for each other has grown over the last few years.”
Both ponies are about 10 years old and they have formed an unbreakable friendship.
Jo said: “Maisie is perfect for visits like this. She originally came from a rescue sanctuary on the Wirral, but we are not quite sure of her back story.
“She quickly settled in with us though and is now quite at home at the stables we use at Overleigh Equestrian Centre.
“Oatis joined us about three years ago. He used to belong to another organisation but became very forlorn when the horse he was stabled with there died. We took him on as we thought working with us alongside Maisie might help lift his spirits. But we never imagined just how great the difference would be to his well-being.
“They are both similar natured, calm around people and very gentle. Not all Shetland ponies have what it takes to be therapy ponies but these two are the perfect partnership. They seem to be able to instinctively sense how to approach people in a care situation like this.”
Another horse-loving Bodlondeb resident, Barbara Walton, said she had been hugely excited all morning waiting for the ponies to arrive.
“They are beautiful,” she said, “Just beautiful.”
Maisie and Oatis also met ‘horse whisperer’ Hilary Paul, now being cared for at Bodlondeb after a lifetime of working with horses and developing ground-breaking compassionate training methods without the use of a whip or a bit.
Hilary is immobile and has lost her ability to speak but Oatis gently approached her and rested his head on her arm.
At neighbouring Cae Bryn care home, also on Pendine Park’s Summerhill site, resident Diane Ralph said meeting Maisie and Oatis had made her day.
Friend Evelyn Roberts added that seeing the two horses reminded her of her days living in a farming community and making friends with a horse called Lucky on a local farm.
Evelyn’s daughter, Alison Gardner, said she felt lucky to have been visiting her mum on the day the ponies arrived.
She said: “They really are lovely. Mum has been totally animated from the moment she saw them. She loves horses and animals in general. The ponies with their hats on are so engaging and mum pointed out what great shoes they have.”
Jo Spencer and the team also work with other horses on their mission to bring some animal magic to care homes, schools, hospitals and community groups around Wrexham.
She is one of five directors of the Jubilee Beau Unicorn Equine Project which was set up to engage with vulnerable groups in the community and anyone who may be suffering feelings of isolation or live with mental health issues.
The project is a Community Interest Company, a not for profit organisation financed through grant aid and fund-raising events. All the helpers are volunteers who give up spare time to run the service.
Pendine Park artist in residence Sarah Edwards said: “We are all hugely excited to welcome the Jubilee Beau team and Maisie and Oatis.
“They are spending the whole day with us so that residents in each of our homes here will have a chance to see the ponies and stroke them if they want to.
“The team do a fantastic job and Maisie and Oatis are super characters, a completely adorable pair of sweethearts. You cannot help but smile from the moment you first see them.”
