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That’s really cool, Phoenix! 😀
I was a CNA at a nursing home through 2 years of high school and all of college. One day we brought in one of our kittens to show the residents. Quite a few of them brightened up when they saw him. We used to let families bring their small dogs in, too. It was a treat for the residents. I’m sure most of them had pets in their lives and missed having them.
That is so great, Phoenix! How many ponies did you bring? I wonder how many of those kids had never gotten to pet a pony before… probably quite a few.
Our Great Pyrenees, Pyrless Blizzard of Odds, CGC, CD, TD (AKA Flurry) was a registered therapy dog. We did a few nursing home visits, and a few hospital visits. Then I got too busy with my job, and gave it up. 🙁 But she’s a regular kid magnet. No matter where we take her, she is inevitably surrounded by kids. 😀
I’ve also volunteered with my stallion, RB Bellagio at a handicapped riding facility near home here.
The first year we donated our time to give carriage rides to the kids and their families at the open house. After our shift was over, RB had a small paddock to himself, and I parked myself on the ground in front of the gate, mostly to keep an eye on things. I had my back turned to RB, and I heard a kid giggling. I turned to look, and here was this little boy wearing a straw cowboy hat, blowing bubbles in front of RB’s nose. RB stole his hat, and was playing with him, by putting the hat down within reach, and when the boy would reach for it, RB would move his head *just* enough that he would miss. And that horse backed down the fenceline, egging this kid on. I about busted a gut.
The second episode, I heard a little girl calling, “C’mere Horsey! And this time I see her leaning through the fence with both arms outstretched. That horse walked over to her, sniffed her hands, and put his head down so she could pet him.
The last time we volunteered, the same horse pulled me over to a lady in a wheelchair, and put his nose in her lap so she could scratch his ears…he loves a good ear scratch. 😉
They just *know*….and it never fails to tickle me to watch them!That is wonderful Phoenix! I bet you and your horses were the biggest and best thing to happen to the kids that day!
Phoenix wrote:I’ve never really seen with my own eyes how animals can affect kids.
Mike and I took two of our ponies to my kids’ school for a show and tell.
The first group of kids were Pre-K. The ponies did SOOOOO good! They stood still and let all the kids do their petting.
The next group of kids were the developmentally disabled kids. Wow! Kids who normally were in their own little worlds came alive when they saw the ponies. Their eyes brightened and they started talkin their own talk.
One little boy who the teachers have been trying to get through to went up to Silo and hugged her leg and started saying “horsie”. The teachers were flaberghasted he talked!
We had an absolutely great day and the ponies were angels! One little boy got away from his teacher and ran UNDER Silo 😯 I think I just about had a heart attack! But she didn’t move an inch. Thank God!
We’re going to be invited back next year!
Now I’m tired 😆I work in an ENT practice and we evaluate a lot of children for hearing when they are developmentally delayed. Most of these children actually hear well enough, and sadly we have to tell the parents that the child has normal hearing and the issues are being caused by something else.
These children usually are overstimulated by human contact, but put them with an animal and they come alive! The effect the animals have on these children is fantastic. I have done wildlife presentations and exotic animal presentations to these kids and they are so alert and engaged!
I think they are so innocent and special that they can gain so much from programs and presentations with animals! Keep doing this presentation, the kids will benefit tremendously!
I just spoke with the principle. She wants the ponies back so she can do a pony picture fundraiser.
They normally have a carnival at the beginning of the school year and we’re going to bring one or two ponies for rides and pictures!
I’m really excited!
I’ll have to go double time with my little rider volunteers to do some serious bomb-proofing!
Silo is really good at not spooking and I’ll probably bring one along just for exposure.
How fun!Oh, and someone asked how many we brought to the school. We brought Silo the bucksking and Lilly the paly.
That way the kids could choose blonde or brunette 😆
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