Trotting True-Life
I bring smiles to peoples’ faces in a very unique way…
Sarah Woodland, 42, from Oxford
Holding the door open, two ponies trotted past me.
They were raring to go, with artificial flowers clipped onto their bridles.
‘Come on girls,’ I called, leading them into the care home lounge.
Trotting into the room, everyone’s faces lit up.
Gasping, the care home residents leaned forwards in their armchairs. ‘Are they real?’ one lady asked. ‘They certainly are,’ I nodded. Then, I brought my ponies around to each resident.
That day, Poppy and Tinkerbell were in their element.
The residents stroked their manes, chatting away to them. Even after bringing my ponies into care homes for almost two years, the reactions never got old to me.
It’s an idea I had since taking in two ponies in 2020 – I’d spotted them in a nearby field and offered to take them in after chatting to the farmer, who didn’t have time to look after them.
I was drawn to horses, having ridden them since I was little.
I’d bought a horse years ago and had taken up horse grooming, too. But after taking a break from riding to have my sons Oliver, 15, and Henry, 10, I wanted to take back the reins.
I can’t have ponies for the sake of having ponies, I thought.
Only, I saw videos online of ponies making special visits to care homes as a form of equine therapy.
What if I could do that with my ponies? I thought.
By then, I’d expanded to housing five ponies in a field by my house, having been offered them for free by locals.
So, in summer 2022, I started my horsey business.
I’d worked with horses before, so I felt at ease.
Speaking to my friends, they suggested I host children’s birthday parties first to earn some money on the side.
So, applying for a license from the council, the ponies soon had their party hats on.
They were so docile, so I knew they’d be perfect in care homes.
And reaching out to local care homes, soon, Poppy, Tinkerbell, Gracie, Abbie and Georgie were stepping hoof in one.
Taking two
