Bringing Calm, Connection & Comfort to Healthcare Environments
We are delighted to introduce our therapeutic animal service designed specifically for hospitals, hospices, neurological centres, physiotherapy departments, and mental health units. Our gentle and well-trained animals offer patients a calming, interactive, and uplifting experience that complements existing therapies and promotes emotional, physical, and psychological well-being.
Therapeutic Animals Available for Visits
Miniature Shetland Ponies
Meet our calm and affectionate ponies — Bella, Pippa, Missy, and Spirit. Whether it’s a quiet bedside cuddle or a walk through a therapy garden, they bring moments of magic and connection. Our ponies are trained to navigate indoor hospital spaces and can even visit patients who are bedbound.
Small Animals (Rabbits, Guinea Pigs & Chickens)
Ideal for sensory engagement, emotional comfort, and promoting calmness. Their soft fur and gentle nature are especially beneficial in physio and neuro rehab settings, offering soothing tactile stimulation. Our Chickens love to sit and perch on an arm or a knee, whilst our friendly Cockerel usually steals the show with his Cock-a-doodle Doo.
Farm Animals (Sheep & Goats)
Friendly and curious, our farm animals bring joy and gentle humour. Our goats and sheep are always ready for a gentle stroke or to make patients smile, they are very playful and certainly entertaining to watch.
Each visit is carefully planned with your team, ensuring the right combination of animals to suit your patient group, therapeutic goals, and space.
Therapeutic Benefits of Our Visits
For Patients:
- Emotional Support: Reduce anxiety, uplift mood, and offer non-verbal companionship.
- Cognitive Stimulation: Encourage memory recall, conversation, and mental engagement — especially effective in patients with dementia or acquired brain injuries.
- Physical Therapy: Encourage movement, fine motor skills (stroking, brushing), and engagement in physiotherapy exercises.
- Motivation & Encouragement: Promote participation in rehabilitation goals through meaningful, patient-centred activities.
For Clinical Staff:
- Improve morale, reduce stress, and offer a positive shared experience with patients.
- Strengthen rapport and communication through joint interaction with therapy animals.
Designed for Accessibility
- Bedside Access: Ponies and small animals can be brought directly to patients unable to move.
- Lift Access & Corridor Navigation: Ponies are trained to access upper floors safely.
- Infection Control: All animals undergo strict health checks, and we follow your infection control protocols.
- Protective Equipment: Ponies wear horse-friendly diaper bags and non-slip protective boots. Sheep and goats wear special indoor nappies.
- Welfare First: All animals are transported in comfort and calm, with breaks and enrichment provided before and after visits.
Our Experience
- Neurology Wards – supporting stroke, brain injury, and MS patients
- Mental Health Units – helping reduce agitation and promote interaction
- Hospices – offering peaceful and meaningful last wishes and emotional support
- Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Units – assisting with motivation and physical engagement
- General and Paediatric Hospitals – bringing calm and smiles to patients and families
We are proud to have been featured live on ITV’s This Morning and work alongside Rehability UK and other national healthcare providers.
Pricing
- 1 Hour Visit (One Pony or Small Animals): £150
- 1 Hour Visit (One Pony + Small or Farm Animals / Two Ponies): £225
- 1.5 Hour Visit (One Pony or Small Animals): £200
- 1.5 Hour Visit (One Pony + Small or Farm Animals / Two Ponies): £275
- 2 Hour Visit (One Pony or Small Animals): £250
- 2 Hour Visit (One Pony + Small or Farm Animals / Two Ponies): £325
Fuel Charges:
First 10 miles are free (5 miles each way). After that, a charge of £1.50 per additional mile is applied. We aim to coordinate with nearby sites to help reduce travel costs.
Let’s Make a Difference – One Visit at a Time
We’d love to discuss how we can support your patients’ care journeys. If you have specific therapeutic goals or safety protocols to consider, we are happy to adapt.
Contact: Jessica Everill
Miniature Shetland Therapy Ponies Ltd
Email: info@shetlandtherapy.co.uk
Phone: 07912 681564
License Number: 009223 (North Warwickshire Borough Council)