Learning to be safe….
Our therapy ponies spend a lot of time learning to be safe, happy therapy ponies. Toby had some indoor practice today under the guidance of Sarah. As you can see from the video clip, he had to get used to automatic doors, carpet under foot, squeaky zimmer frames, tea trollies, radiators and furniture everywhere. He experienced walking from carpet to a slippery lift floor, with the added obstacle of seeing himself in the lift mirror!!
We never rush or push any of their training sessions as we need these ponies to enjoy and feel relaxed when working. Sarah ensures Tobys lead rope is slack whilst he is walking around. If she pulled him along he wouldn’t learn to be confident and independent, instead he would learn to rely on his handler to get him around an indoor building.
Toby also wore a ‘nappy’, which is an unnatural thing to wear and he isnt keen on wearing it when he has ‘used’ the bag. We don’t do the straps of the underpants tight until he is comfortable so they are loose in the video on purpose. It makes it easier to remove the underpants quickly and swiftly if required!!
Toby was a little star today and we cannot thank the staff and residents at Melbourn Springs Care Home enough for their help and support enabling our younger ponies get valuable experience working indoors. Without these care homes allowing us to practice we would struggle to teach the ponies the skills they need to become safe, happy and confident therapy ponies.