Equine Trip Prompts Memories for Residents

Horse-loving residents at a Winchester dementia care home rekindled riding memories from their younger years on a visit to a top equine centre.

The daytrip to Broadlands Equine Therapy & RDA near Alton was a heartwarming opportunity for the party from Colten Care’s St Catherines View to put horses and ponies centre stage in their lives once again.

Centre staff and volunteers welcomed residents Mary, Helen, Linda, and Zozzy into the stables where they were able to stroke, brush and get to know the horses in a gentle, relaxed manner.

“Each resident has deep personal connections with horses,” said Laura, Companionship Team Leader at St Catherines View. “Mary spoke fondly throughout the day about her beloved Sheba from her younger days.

“Helen was a volunteer at stables and helped adults and children with disabilities continue to enjoy riding and spending time around horses.

“And Linda, who said she had an amazing time, had her own horses, Paddy and Danny, in the past. She knew exactly what she was doing to get to know our horsey hosts. She even got a kiss from Teddy the horse!”

There was particular interest when staff and volunteers brought out two Shetland ponies, both shorter than the full height of a wheelchair.

Grooming horse Mia, Mary became covered in horsehair on her arms and, as she looked round at the rest of the horses, joked: “You might mistake me for one of them!”

After the stables, the residents went to the centre’s arena to see staff tacking up the horses, a further chance to be close to them.

As the horses were walked, Zozzy said: “Isn’t the sound of their hooves just wonderful, and the smell is delicious.”

In the arena’s viewing gallery, the party relaxed with tea and homemade cakes while watching a riding demonstration and chatting further with volunteers.

The visit was arranged through Broadlands’ ‘Tea with a Pony’ wellbeing experience which is designed to offer gentle, therapeutic and supervised interactions with calm ponies.

The St Catherines View party also enjoyed a picnic in the countryside near Broadlands before returning to Winchester on the home’s minibus.

Laura said: “We had a lovely time at Broadlands and have already been asked by residents when we plan to return.”