When was the last time you saw a miniature horse step out of a minivan in the middle of Manhattan?
Believe it or not, that’s exactly what happened earlier this week when a pair of pint-sized ponies rolled up to an Upper East Side assisted living facility, turning heads and melting hearts as they made their way inside to greet the seniors.
“I’m very happy to see them,” resident Louis Gartlir told The Post. “Just petting this pony was thrilling for me.”
For more than a decade, 17-year-old Pearl and 15-year-old Aidan have brightened days at places like Sunrise at East 56th through HorseAbility’s equine therapy program.
The Long Island nonprofit says that interacting with horses can have a calming, grounding effect — helping reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and combat the feelings of loneliness and social isolation that often affect seniors.
“Animal therapy helps bring something out of the residents,” said Alyssa Friedman, program director with Sunrise East 56th.
Suddenly, she said, seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia will start sharing stories about their childhood pets and other cherished memories from their pasts.
“She had unconditional love for me — you don’t have to be smart or pretty. You don’t find that in people anymore. I love that animal.”
Joann Girsh
Meanwhile, those battling anxiety and depression crack a smile or laugh, as the animals spark a childlike joy that helps them forget the aches and pains of age.
“It’s so important for their mental health,” Friedman added, noting the facility also brings in dogs every week to interact with residents. “It opens up their world.”
HorseAbility trains therapy animals like Pearl and Aidan at its Long Island campus, teaching them to maintain a calm, gentle demeanor when interacting with seniors and others with special needs.
And it shows: For more than two hours, the equine duo trotted through a sea of canes and wheelchairs without so much as a whinny, skillfully navigating tight hallways, service elevators and even a swarm of camera crews snapping their picture.
“They really are special animals,” said volunteer Denise Ryder. “Horses can sense a person’s warm energy; they just gravitate toward it.”
Joann Girsh felt that magic firsthand. Throughout the visit, Pearl kept circling back to her, gently resting her head in Girsh’s lap as the resident stroked the portly pony’s snout.
“It made me cry. I felt like I had a friend,” Girsh said. “She had unconditional love for me — you don’t have to be smart or pretty. You don’t find that in people anymore. I love that animal.”
Other residents reminisced about their younger days riding horses, some saying it had been decades since they’d been near the graceful creatures. Many called the visit a welcome break from a life that can sometimes grow monotonous.
One woman admitted she was “terrified” of horses after one stepped on her foot years ago. But with some coaxing, the gentle Pearl won Catherine “Cook” Brogan over, a hesitant smile spreading across her face as she reached out a hand to let the pony give her a sniff.
“They’re so sweet — and they are very well trained,” Brogan said. “It’s wonderful. They give a whole different feel to this place.”
HorseAbility was founded in 1993 by Kathleen Kilcommons McGowan after she lent her horse to a friend and physical therapist, who used the animal as part of a treatment plan for a child with cerebral palsy.
Inspired by the child’s deep connection with the horse — and how the animal accelerated progress in therapy — McGowan launched the nonprofit to give back to the local community.
Today, HorseAbility operates on a sprawling 20-acre campus at the College at SUNY Old Westbury, where it offers on-site “hippotherapy.”
This specialized form of occupational and speech therapy uses a horse’s natural movement to help patients improve motor skills, balance, coordination and communication.
Beyond the campus, volunteers regularly bring therapy ponies like Pearl and Aidan to assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospitals, spreading joy and comfort to everyone they meet.
“It’s a mental, physical and emotional experience [for residents],” Friedman said. “We see so much value in it.”
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