Two miniature ponies stole the hearts of our residents when they visited our care home in Rocester, on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border.

Ponies Lollipop and Tinkerbelle were the centre of attention here at Barrowhill Hall, our 74-bedroom residential and nursing home, which specialises in caring for those living with dementia and memory loss.

The pair were hosted in our large garden and they enjoyed a tour of our home with residents sharing a wonderful afternoon in their company, feeding and stroking them.

“They were fantastic,” said resident Leonard, 86. “They really stole the show! It was nice to sit with them, they had great personalities.”

To make the visit inclusive the furry duo also made personal appearances in residents’ rooms and for some it was quite an unexpected visit.

“I was so shocked”, said Resident Gillyann, 88. “It’s not every day a pony walks into your bedroom!

“They were so lovely and very well behaved. It was love at first sight. I love animals, I used to live on a farm and this visit made my day.”

The show stopping ponies are known to offer therapeutic benefits to the vulnerable, elderly and the very young and were brought in by Lollipop Pony Parties who offer pet therapy visits. The ponies are intuitive and respond to the emotions of the people around them.

Business Owner, Karen, said: “Our ponies loved their visit to Barrowhill Hall. It was a very special afternoon and we could clearly see the joy and surprise on the residents’ faces, which is always magical.

“Visits from our ponies can often have a very calming effect on residents, especially those living with dementia, they can provide new experiences for some and bring back lovely memories for others.

“It’s very sensory because residents can enjoy the smells and feel their lovely soft fur. Lollipop and Tinkerbelle enjoyed all the fuss and they got a lot of treats too so we know they want to visit again!”

Providing activities to evoke memories and reflection helps to give residents a feeling of security and comfort but here at Barrowhill Hall we are also keen to create new memories and opportunities for our residents, enabling them to live stimulating and fulfilling lives.

Our care home manager, Dania, explains, “We’re a great team here and we offer a lot of variety with our activities to bring stimulation and meaning to our residents.

“Most of our residents have met a pony before so it can bring back lots of lovely memories for them but meeting them indoors and certainly inside bedrooms was a new experience for many.

“We were delighted to welcome these two into our home, they were very gentle and affectionate with our residents and it was a lot of fun for everyone. We can’t wait to have them back!”