Latest news with #therapyhorses
CBS News
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Mini therapy horses bring joy to hospital patients, first responders throughout LA County
A keyboard playing mini-horse has become a viral sensation after her musical performance helped a young patient wake up from anesthesia at Shriners Children Hospital. Black Pearl is a 17-year-old mare who is one of nine mini horses that make up the "Mini-Therapy Horses" team. They're a nonprofit organization that seeks to bring joy and support to hospital patients, first responders and school children. "Pearl is very expressive at it and she does like to show off," said Victoria Nodiff Netanel, who founded the nonprofit in 2008. In video that has since gone viral on social media, racking up nearly three million likes and more than 30 million views, Pearl can be seen moving her muzzle across a piano keyboard as she helps a girl wake up from surgery. "She was doing a number on her keyboard, which is what all my horses do and it brings a lot of smiles to everyone," said Netanel. In the video, that exact thing can be seen, when the patient cracks a smile at the unusual sight. Netanel started Mini-Therapy Horses out of a desire to combine her love for horses with helping others. They began in the psychiatric ward and intensive care unit at the Veterans Hospital before branching out to now visit patients at several hospitals including the Cedars Sinai Medical Center. As official members of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the mini horse team also worked to cheer up weary firefighters after the January wildfires. "We went into the tents where these firefighters had been working tirelessly," Netanel said. "They would just lean over and hug the horses, we brought so much comfort." Netanel trains each mare to do a multitude of tricks, and most recently she's started teaching Valentina, a one-year-old mini horse, how to ride a skateboard. She says each training session is filled with positive reinforcement and love that the horses give back to everyone they meet. "It's been a complete passion, joy and giving and making a difference in people's lives and it just keeps growing," Netanel said.
CNA
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Eat, Drink, Singapore - What the puff?
CNA938 Rewind - EQUAL's Open Stables Day – meet therapy horses and have fun! In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro finds out where Singaporeans and Singapore residents can go to come face-to-muzzle with therapy horses, including miniature horses and rehomed ex-racing, polo, and riding school horses. That's happening at Open Stables Day organised by EQUAL, a registered charity aiming to transform lives through animal-assisted services. EQUAL's CEO Elaine Chen will talk more about the one-day family-friendly event – taking place on 26 July 2025 - that includes guided stable tours, meet-and-greet sessions and in-depth Behind-the-Stable experiences.
CNA
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - EQUAL's Open Stables Day – meet therapy horses and have fun!
In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro finds out where Singaporeans and Singapore residents can go to come face-to-muzzle with therapy horses, including miniature horses and rehomed ex-racing, polo, and riding school horses. That's happening at Open Stables Day organised by EQUAL, a registered charity aiming to transform lives through animal-assisted services. EQUAL's CEO Elaine Chen will talk more about the one-day family-friendly event – taking place on 26 July 2025 - that includes guided stable tours, meet-and-greet sessions and in-depth Behind-the-Stable experiences.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Clay-Battelle library hosts meet and greet with miniature horses
BLACKSVILLE, (WBOY) — The Clay-Battelle Public Library in Blacksville welcomed community members Tuesday evening for a meet-and-greet event that offered attendees the opportunity to interact with two miniature therapy horses in an educational setting. The horses, Stormy and Toby, are certified therapy animals trained by On Eagles' Wings, a nonprofit organization based in Fairmont that specializes in equine-assisted therapy. The gentle nature of the miniature horses serves an important role in supporting individuals facing emotional, psychological, and physical challenges, offering a calming presence through their trained interactions. 'We are so excited to have On Eagles' Wings here, they are a staple in the Fairmont Community, so we wanted to bring them out here to let our patrons know about them,' Clay-Battelle Public Library Assistant Molly Simpson said. 'We've had an awesome group of kids today get to learn about what it means to be a therapy horse, how they've been trained, and then how to interact with them in order to have a positive experience.' Bleachers being removed from Hite Field for safety reasons Throughout the event, children and families were invited to engage directly with the horses, learning about their specialized training, daily routines and the therapeutic benefits they provide in various settings such as hospitals, schools and care facilities. The program also helped raise awareness about the impactful role therapy animals play in promoting mental and emotional well-being. 'It's very therapeutic in that they can sense your heart rate, they can sense your mood, and they respond to how the person is feeling,' Miniature Horse Mini Wings Program Coordinator Nancy Hickman said. 'We try and make it an intimate meeting with the horse, so they get to touch the horse, the horse will get up close to them and sniff them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
