Pair of ponies cheer up hospital patients as they become therapy horses
A hospital becomes a horse-pital when a pair of ponies turn up to treat the patients.
Pixie and Pickles have been doing ward rounds since 2019, and have now been joined by five more of the animals, who also visit care homes, schools, hospices and refuges.
Lindsey Head, 56, launched Pixie and Pickles Adventures following the death of her dad. She had seen how much they helped him when he was in a care home before he passed away.
Nurse Lindsey takes two of her horses to Lister Hospital in Stevenage, twice a month, visiting more than 60 patients. She said: "The doctors and the staff and all the patients get something out of it.
"Everyone wants selfies and cuddles. It's lovely and gives them temporary relief. You fall in love with them as soon as you see them and one of them is recognised as a dementia specialist pony as well - they're just amazing.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
"They've been amazing with children as well."
Studies have found that equine therapy can have significant psychological benefits, including reducing feelings of depression. Lindsey added: "I knew they had therapy dogs visiting the hospital and I asked if they could have therapy ponies. They wear nappies and they're all cleaned beforehand. We're now in talks with Great Ormond Street which will be amazing."
Lauren Barnett and Pickles the therapy pony at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage (© SWNS)Jane Shaw from East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity, who organises the visits, said: "The benefit of animal interactions with humans has been noted since Florence Nightingale was nursing - it calms people down and helps them to feel better.
"We now understand the physiological basis behind this much better. Stroking a therapy dog or pony reduces the production of stress hormones, such as cortisol, which in turn reduces blood pressure and the feelings and physical symptoms of anxiety. It also works wonders for our staff as well!"
All pony visits are subject to hygiene and infection procedures, with detailed risk assessments approved by the relevant health and safety teams.
Jane added: "A lot of work and research went into preparing a case for the ponies to come into the hospital and visit patients on wards. The ponies are always washed and groomed before they are brought to the hospital - they look spotless and smell beautiful!"
Bali street dogs rescued
James and Chloe have formed an attachment with the two dogs after taking the strays in whilst being in Bali (© James Mangan / SWNS)A couple who fell in love with a pair of street dogs in Bali are raising money to bring them home to Liverpool.
James Mangan, 25, and Chloe McPartland, 20 have been staying on the Pacific Island for three months. They saw the neglected and malnourished strays outside their accommodation and started feeding them, before taking them into their temporary home.
They are now so attached to the pooches - named Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng after the Indonesian rice and noodle dishes - that they can’t leave them behind when they fly home to England.
They also fear the pups could fall victim to Bali’s illegal dog meat trade. James, who works in accountancy, said: "There's no hope for them here - they wouldn’t survive on the streets, and all the rescues are full.
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"When we can get them back to the UK we'll take them to the countryside on long walks - they'll have the best life.”
Chloe added: "We didn't have much choice, we could take them with us or go back on the street and we just couldn't do that."
The pair are raising money to repatriate the dogs at gofundme.com/f/Help-Save-These-2-Bali-Puppies.
Sheepdog protects farmer's turkeys
Bear is a 50kg Maremma sheepdog (© SWNS)Meet Bear, a gentle giant who spends his days protecting Christmas turkeys from predators. Bear, a 50kg Maremma sheepdog looks after a free-range flock of the festive birds from August to December in Somerset.
Farmer George Ford, 34, said: "Bear was in with the birds as soon as we got him as a puppy. We didn’t even really have to train him - it's kind of innate. He just built that bond with them straight away and stays outside with them the whole year round.”
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