Bringing a smile to elderly, the National Hoof Service!
FORGET cats and dogs – care home residents are being delighted by visits from friendly horses and alpacas.
One of the specially trained animals is Alfie, a six-year-old Falabella miniature horse who stands just 30 inches tall. He is owned by Sara Kelly, 47, a former carer from Broughton Astley, Leicestershire. Miss Kelly said: ‘His temperament is amazing and he reacts to every individual person. Residents really enjoy him, especially those who can’t get outside.’ Older people also light up when they spot Wendy Williams’s alpacas, which can even go in lifts on visits to bed-bound patients. The 52-year-old, from Shaftesbury, Dorset, said: ‘It’s hard to look at my alpacas without them bringing a smile to your face.’