Tender Little Hearts Mini Tales

Accompanying the Tender Little Hearts Mini Therapy and Mini Tales horses on their visits has been such a rewarding experience filled with many special moments. I’ll never forget my first visit to a memory care facility. I was surprised when we walked right into the glass elevator with our equine therapists and headed up to the second floor, but no more surprised than the people waiting for the elevator when the doors opened, and horses walked out! We were initially greeted by several smiling residents who had been eagerly awaiting our arrival. They hugged, and kissed, and patted, and posed with our personable and understanding little horses. However, the most poignant moments occurred when we approached the quiet spectators sitting along the walls. I enjoyed several minutes with a gentleman who recounted his boyhood experiences with his grandfather’s draft horses on their farm and shared the bewilderment of another when he realized he no longer remembered the name of the horse he used to ride. One lovely little lady seemed unresponsive as we approached, but then she reached out tentatively, and as she ran her fingers through Mazy’s beautiful silky mane, silent tears began trickling down her cheeks and she snuggled her face to his. I didn’t know what she needed, but Mazy definitely did.
A second important aspect to Tender Little Hearts Mini Therapy is Mini Tales Literacy. Visiting children’s libraries is always fun. Getting to listen as children read to their horse, show them the pictures, and giggle as whiskery noses snuffle the pages is pure joy. We begin to recognize the familiar faces of “regulars” on our monthly visits. One of these is an older child who personifies the magic of this program. He always approaches with a shy smile and a “beginning reader” book clutched in one hand as he begins petting his reading buddy. It becomes obvious very quickly that reading is a difficult challenge for this young man, but he leans in, and quietly whisper reads every word to Buddy. And, Buddy listens respectfully. As the young man closes his book, he always looks over with another shy smile, says “thank you,” and pets his horse partner goodbye…until next month.