MINI HORSES BREAK NEW GROUND IN THERAPY PROGRAM
Unique Therapeutic Mini Horses Help High School Students Get on Track to Success!
(Mini horse Rootbeer takes a self-y with a student)
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (May 25, 2017) – For over twenty year, cuddly and adorable dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and even Guinea Pigs have provided regular therapy animal visits to San Diego skilled nursing centers, children’s shelters, hospitals, psychiatric units, and other facilities through Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Pet Encounter Therapy (PET). The program has brought love, hope, and numerous mental and physical benefits to thousands of people. For the first time, however, a new animal trotting onto the San Diego’s school therapy scene has been making such a dust-up that they’re becoming part of the “mane” curriculum… Media is invited to witness PET’s newest therapy professionals in action on May 31st as Rootbeer and Edward the Mini Horses visit at-risk teens at Murray High School in Vista.
Just teens themselves, Rootbeer (14-years old) and Edward (15-years old) embarked on a new life path when their owner saw how much joy they brought to people in public, and approached the Center’s PET program hoping the Minis could bring a major boost to those who need it most. Since they joined the program just three months ago in February, the duo has logged six therapy visits, touching over 200 lives and they’re chomping at the bit for more.
“Rootbeer and Edward have already proven themselves to be wonderful therapy animals,” said PET Manager Robin Cohen, “At Murray they managed to engage with normally shy students, and even inspiring some with spotty attendance records to be sure they were in class. At a local retirement community their visit had one resident reminiscing about a pet horse from 85 years ago, and another staying long past her turn with the horses just to watch them interact with others. It’s just been incredible to watch them blossom into so much more than pets. ”
Look around the room at a Helen Woodward Animal Center Pet Encounter Therapy session and you’ll see faces light up with smiles and laughter, but joy is far from the only benefit of the visit. Studies have shown that along with being enjoyable, visits from a therapy pet can also provide stress reduction, relaxation, lowered blood pressure, increased attention span, increased memory recall, and improved self-esteem. The Center’s Pet Encounter Therapy staff and volunteers take dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and guinea pigs to visit more than 50 facilities a month, and serve more than twenty five thousand people per year with many organizations on our waiting list.
Usually visitors and cameras are restricted from therapy visits due to the sensitive nature of the clientele, but media has been invited to this very special visit to Murray High School, a Vista school that serves students who face serious life challenges, and are working hard to achieve their academic goals.