Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Visit therapy ponies for relaxing tea and yoga
A FIFE equine therapy business is offering the chance to celebrate the summer solstice by indulging in a touch of pony yoga.
The unusual event is the brainchild of Trish O’meara, who has just launched North Fife Therapy Ponies.
The Wormit-based business will soon offer equine therapy and relaxation to people with dementia and str essrelated conditions.
And i t ’s hoped the separate countryside pony yoga session will help attendees gain a sense of calm and inner peace.
Trish has five miniature Shetland ponies. And while they don’t actually adopt yoga poses, she hopes their presence will add to the overall atmosphere of the June 21 event.
“Equine assisted therapies are huge,” said Trish. “They bring your stress levels down.”
North Fife Therapy Ponies has been running children’s parties for some time. Youngsters get to groom the animals and take them for a walk.
However, behind the scenes Trish and her staff are preparing the therapeutic side of the business.
It began when Trish met Alex Barr, a psychology student, when both volunteered with Riding for the Disabled in Dundee.
Alex and some of the other volunteers took the reins of the new business and ran with it. “They do an amazing job,” said Trish. “They’ve been putting together little pony treks and birthday parties.”
She added: “Aside from that, we wanted to use our knowledge and experience to offer equine therapy.
“One of the girls has contacted some care homes to see if groups of adults with dementia want to come for tea with the ponies. They’ll get tea and cake and the volunteers will bring the ponies over to be petted.
“We’re not quite ready to start that but we’re doing the groundwork and getting it out there.”
And therapies won’t just be for older people.
“We’re thinking all ages,” said Trish. “For a young child with communication issues, ponies can be very therapeutic.”