In late November, nursing home resident Alice Lim, 88, encountered unusual visitors – a pair of miniature therapy horses.
Summer and Friday were taken to her bedside at the Villa Francis Home for the Aged in Yishun, where she petted and talked to them.
Lim, who is married with no children and is unable to walk due to a medical condition, was happy to see the horses, especially as she is on the bed “all the time” and feels that she cannot do anything.
“I said I love you to the horses. They look cute to me. They are very patient,” she said.
Miniature horses were taken to visit the home’s residents as part of an initiative to address the needs of an underserved group: bed-bound and wheelchair-using seniors in nursing homes.
The Horses By Your Side programme was started in 2023 by Equal, a charity that runs equine- assisted learning programmes to improve people’s well-being.
Many seniors broke into a smile and were visibly delighted when they saw Summer or Friday.
Zarrah Aloba, the charity’s programme instructor, said this group of seniors in nursing homes have limited access to activities that foster social connection and mental stimulation, so Equal decided to take the miniature horses – which are small enough to fit into nursing homes’ lifts – right to their bedside.
Aloba said: “The seniors interact with the horses in a myriad of ways – from chatting with them like old friends, to giving them friendly pats and hugs, and learning to care for the horses, such as brushing their manes.”
She said activities such as grooming and spending time with a horse can help seniors to improve their motor skills and stimulate their minds.
She added that Equal’s six miniature horses have been given local nicknames, so that it is easier for the seniors to remember their names.
Aloba explained that miniature horses are a different breed from ponies, and they are known for their calm, gentle and friendly temperament. Hence, they are often used as therapy animals.
She added: “As highly intuitive animals, horses mirror the emotions and behaviour of those around them.
“For the elderly, this can create powerful opportunities for reflection, emotional regulation and a sense of connection without the need for words.”
Equal has introduced the programme to St Theresa’s Home in Upper Thomson and Villa Francis, among other homes.
Villa Francis resident Chandra Segran, 69, loves animals and used to have a pet dog.
He now uses a wheelchair after suffering a stroke. It was a treat for him to see and pet Summer, as he said it is uncommon to see a horse in Singapore, adding: “I’m very happy the horse came to see me.”
In Singapore, animal-assisted therapy has been used for various groups, from those with special needs to young people. — The Straits Times/ANN
