It’s Monday afternoon in mid-November. The residents at ACC Care Center are waiting eagerly in the lobby for a celebrity to arrive. It’s pretty quiet except for the sound of resident Gloria playing “You Are My Sunshine” on her harmonica. It’s a very fitting song for what happens next.
Just as the song ends, the main entrance doors slide open. The four-legged guest has arrived. It’s Sadie, a 35”, buckskin, mini-horse. She casually scans the scene and begins her runway walk with almost human grace. Yes, an actual horse has entered the building!
The faces of the residents light up right away. A few residients start clapping. The commotion gets louder. “That’s a horse, a small horse!” someone exclaims.
Sadie belongs to Estella Hoskins, who is affiliated with Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. After working as a counselor for 30 years, Estella is now a certified and registered handler. She and her partner Michelle Blanche take Sadie to hospitals, schools, and recovery centers for people with traumatic brain injuries.
“Sadie takes away peoples’ anxiety and stress. It’s amazing to see what her gentleness and quietness does for them,” says Estella. “We’ve had people just start sobbing because it brings back memories from their childhood.”
Estella and Michelle take Sadie to meet each ACC resident, allowing them to pet her, talk to her, and brush her hair. The handlers are just as calm and caring as Sadie.
Sadie tilts her ears forward when a resident starts talking to her. “When she does that, it means she’s paying attention,” says Estella.
Equine therapy is a form of therapy that makes use of horses to help promote emotional growth. Horses behave like human beings and can respond immediately, giving feedback, and mirroring emotions. They can help people with ADD, anxiety, autism, dementia, delayed mental development, Down syndrome, and depression.
“Our residents are just overjoyed,” says ACC Activities Director Debbie Williams. “Sadie brings so much love and compassion.” For more information about Sadie and Pet Partners visit their websites teamsadie.com and PetPartners.org.
