Miniature Therapy Horse Program

[nbark]

Hi everyone,

Some of you know about Maggie my mini therapy horse. If not, Maggie has been a therapy horse since the age of eight months and has been named the mascot for the Massachusetts North Shore Arthritis Foundation for her contributions walking to raise money for arthritis. She has also been asked to help kick off the fundraising campaign for the Beverly School for the Deaf here in Mass and has been approached about visiting a class of students who are studying to become recreational directors at nursing facilities. Maggie makes about 15 visits a year and walks for various charitable organizations at NO CHARGE. That is the key here. There are places that donate a gas card to help with the cost of gas but this is not required or asked for.

My question to all of you is: How many mini owners would be willing to be part of a National Miniature Therapy Horse Program where you would receive certification of such and be listed so that a facility could call and get your name and number to make a visit.

I am asking this because I have done some research and there is currently no certification that I am aware of for miniature therapy horses and would like to start this if there is enough interest.

I am also trying to get the Veterans groups interested in using a miniature therapy horse to help wounded vets get some feelings of independence, freedom, etc by learning to care for and drive a mini.

I would really appreciate your opinions, good or bad on the subject. For any of you with a dwarf, this is a wonderful community service that your little one could do. It is all about hugs and kisses.

Thanks

Nancy

 

[Sixstardanes]

I'd be interested.

Our mini, Saber, is a certified (ID card carrying & liability insured) Therapy Animal through the organization

Love On A Leash.

They have at least a handful of other miniature horses in their organization throughout the United States.

I recall seeing a few listed in the membership booklet from last year.

 

[SaddleTrail]

I would be interested, very much so.

I need to know what training my mini would need to have to become a therapy mini as well.

 

[Lil' Horse Lover]

I would be interested, that'd be awesome!

 

[albahurst]

Absolutely- keep us posted!

Peggy

 

[Brandi*]

I would be interested too

I am currently horse-less but I do plan on getting another one eventually for therapy work.

 

[LAZY J MINIS]

I WOULD BE INTERESTED ALSO. I HAVE A HANDICAPED MARE WHO WOULD BE WONDERFUL AT IT. KEEP ME INFORMED

 

[LowriseMinis]

I would be interested, too!

 

[Miniv]

Great idea! Keep us posted!

 

[targetsmom]

I would be interested too. Thanks for taking the initiative!

 

[nbark]

Okay, I love the responses.

I think we as a group could get this off the ground.

My idea is to have a standard that the minis would have to do this and a network that we belong to so that anyone, anywhere could call or email to get the name, number, etc of a person in their area who has a mini therapy horse.

My own standard is that my mini arrives "show ring ready". All clipped and groomed and wearing a show halter. I personally use a western show halter because I feel it has a little more security than the "arab" style halter. Mine is trained in obstacles, side pass, turn on the forehand, haunches and backing which makes getting in and around wheelchairs easy and getting in and out of elevators easy. I also ask each individual if they want to pat or be kissed by my mini before I do it, because some are hesitant, so this is something that each individual would need to do, make it a safety issue. I also ask that a person who works at the facility escort me and stay with me, as a safety precaution. I have had to "pry" a senior citizen off my horses neck on occasion, they really do love the horses. We as a group could have certification for our minis based on a questionaire that a nursing facility could fill out and fax and giving their visit a rating.

So how does this sound to all of you so far? I will need some help on this and if anyone is willing to share ideas and get this off the ground, I am just as willing and ready. I have five years experience in nursing facility visits with Maggie, so pick my brain apart. My home email is [email protected].

I would eventually like to get a web site up and running that people could access to get info on therapy minis in their area.

 

[Sixstardanes]

One of the biggest things in regards to therapy work is having liability insurance.

Accidents can happen even to the best of us and more organizations are apt to be more welcoming of therapy minis

if they felt it wasn't an element for sueing in the making.

If you started a database & certification would there be membership dues and insurance coverage?

 

[nbark]

One of the biggest things in regards to therapy work is having liability insurance.
Accidents can happen even to the best of us and more organizations are apt to be more welcoming of therapy minis

if they felt it wasn't an element for sueing in the making.

If you started a database & certification would there be membership dues and insurance coverage?

Here in Mass horses are deemed an inherent risk, so even riding stables do not need liability insurance. I have found that the insurance premiums for horses is expensive and may cause some people to shy away from doing therapy work with their mini. I tell facilities I do not have liability insurance, I was quoted $600 a year and where I do not charge anything, it was prohibitive. I have also spoken to some therapy dog programs and they do not require insurance, so it is a little disturbing to me that a dog, who can do just as much damage as a small horse, does not have to have insurance. I think that if a group of us got together on this that we could probably purchase a policy to cover members of this group, which would be a good thing and that maybe a membership fee, and/or a certification fee could pay for this. I am open to any and all suggestions and help.

 

[Sixstardanes]

I'll repeat Love On A Leash

http://www.loveonaleash.org

is a therapy organization that does certifying animals other than just dogs

and with it includes liabilty insurance.

The membership rates are very reasonable!

Fees are listed on their website and one does NOT need to be a member of any chapter to be covered by them.

Our mini as well as one of our Great Danes are certified/covered by Love On A Leash and do therapy visits.

As per true therapy visits it is a volunteer service free of any charge.

In regards to liability insurance some dogs can be covered via Home Owner's Insurance as they are considered property.

Since you are wanting to create a database one needs to consider the requirements/laws of each region/state/county/etc.

 

[SilverDollar]

Rachel (Sixstardanes), I contacted Love On A Leash about my minis becoming visiting horses. The woman told me that they had to be "potty trained".

The group near me mostly has dogs and this woman didn't seem too interested in having a mini in the program. My minis have done visitation before and the woman I bought them from had her own group near San Diego (Horse Hugs). I have Silver and Billy. I have been wanting to do this again and went through the people training with Delta Society. You have to be evaluated as a team but I have not been able to locate a team evaluator anywhere near me that does horses. When you get "approved" you are able to have liability insurance through their group. It sounds similar to LOAL. I'd be very interested in hearing your experience. (I LOVE Saber's website.

) I think you live quite a distance from me. If you'd care to share any information on how you got your mini certified, I'll PM you my email address.

Nancy, I'd be interested and would like to hear more details about a registry. Thanks!

(Rachel, you have an extra 'e' in the web address you gave; I linked to the correct LOAL above.

)

 

[Sixstardanes]

I contacted Love On A Leash about my minis becoming visiting horses.
The woman told me that they had to be "potty trained".

Interesting on hearing this I hadn't heard this being a qualification.

Actually Saber is 1/2 potty trained.

He urinates on command... for the other end he wears a diaper though he rarely deficates when we are out and about.

We taught Saber this because of all the travelling we do with him so he not prone to whiz on the drive.

I have been wanting to do this again and went through the people training with Delta Society.
You have to be evaluated as a team but I have not been able to locate a team evaluator anywhere near me that does horses

There are people in the Therapy Group (Rim Of The World Comfort Pets) we are members of that do Delta testing/etc also.

We are around 2hrs from San Diego in the San Bernardino mtns near Lake Arrowhead.

 

[nbark]

When I contacted Delta several years ago they told me they had no certification for horses but if I was willing to pay a certification fee, which, if I remember correctly was something in the range of $250, I could get a certification. Made no sense to me to pay for a certification just to give them money. But I digress.

I was hoping more to get a group of just mini people who could, as a group, set some standards for mini visits, maybe have a questionaire that facilities could rate a mini's visit for certification and after a set amount of visits, get certified. My mini isn't potty trained, but empties out on the way to the visit and I have had only one pee accident and as the director pointed out, that is a common occurrence in a nursing facility, so it was no big deal but it was my fault, Maggie was giving me all the signs and I didn't take the hint.

I was planning on getting some insurance information for a group situation to see just how expensive it would be. I think I will also see if minis could be covered under home owners policies like dogs, not too hopeful on this. As far as a web site, it would be for nursing facilities to log onto and access a state to see if there was a mini available in the area that makes visits. I don't think that individual states would have to become involved if it is just an informational site. It would be up to the mini owner who is contacted to determine if they want to make a visit or not. I only visit sites that have carpeting for mine to walk on because I don't want to put sneakers on her, but that is what I do.

I will keep everyone posted as to what I find out.

 

[choclat dreams]

I would be very interested in becoming certified. We have been going to assisted living for about 5 years now, but would love that!!

 

[Lil' Horse Lover]

Actually Saber is 1/2 potty trained.

He urinates on command... for the other end he wears a diaper though he rarely deficates when we are out and about.

How did you train him to urinate on command?

I'd like to teach my boys that, it could come in handy. lol

 

[Sixstardanes]

How did you train him to urinate on command?

With a mare this would be more difficult to do

but with boys they frequently give a visual tell tale sign when they are needing to empty their bladder.

What's needed is alot of one on one time with your mini in hand and special treats.

For those that do clicker training add the clicker too.

Just like potty training a dog you chose your request/command words or even a certain whistle.

With us the words are "Go potty, go pee pee"

It may take several hours each day you train to catch it when your mini needs to go.

Watch for other tell tale signs such as yawning and pawing too incase you aren't at an angle to see underbelly action.

When you see they need to say your command and wait.

Repeat as necessary.

If the mini doesn't go within a 5-10 mins walk a bit then stop again for several minutes and try to give your command when you feel they are needing to go.

When they start to go praise & reward with treats.

For clicker folk click and reward.

Don't be stingy with the treats. This should be a jackpot.

For horses that may be reluctant to urinate outside their routine you can help by keeping a ziploc of shavings or even dirt they've peed on with you and sprinkle that down for them to sniff at as it could help encourage them to go.

A smart soul will pick this up very quickly as its an easy & natural thing that gets goodies.

Once your mini is learning this well change locations and ground types.

Get them use to whizzing where you want the to

as you may not have access to dirt or grass where you are going

Saber will go on asphalt/concrete, wooden decks/bridges, on a bit of an incline that has a small drain so his wee goes right down into it.

All sorts of places.

Saber is to the point that sometimes when we ask him to (without him showing any signs) he'll actually try to go pee even when he doesn't need to.

Frequently when I'm in the yard and asking one of the dogs to go (same command) Saber will go too.

Its cute.

Its a great thing for them to know as its good to empty their bladder if you can before travelling & before visiting or perhaps some other type of function.

Hope this post helps.