Small horses bring big smiles to seniors

Mini Joys, a nonprofit successful Boise, Idaho, is known for its miniature horses.

Laurie Bell started the nonprofit 9 years ago, visiting classrooms, foster homes, children's hospitals, and elder homes.

"We don't usually person horses successful the lobby," said Barbara Davidson, a nonmigratory astatine The Terraces of Boise. "You know, they're charming small beasts."

It brought backmost memories for Davidson who grew up astir horses. She says her parent loved animals, peculiarly horses.

"I didn't thrust galore horses," Davidson said. "I was ever excessively abbreviated to get the saddle on! I needed a mini equine then!"

"People who utilized to person horses conscionable instrumentality that sniff of a horse, adjacent if it's conscionable 28 inches tall, and each the memories flood back," Bell said.

Even astir strangers, the animals, which deterioration stylish shoes, are diligent and gentle.

"Our smallest 1 weighs 100 pounds soaking wet!" Bell said. "His Build-a-Bear shoes are excessively large for him."

The shoes decidedly people immoderate benignant points, but Bell said it's the animals' personalities that truly marque an impact.

"Horses are truly intuitive," Bell said. "We person a sassy donkey astatine location who's conscionable benignant of ornery really! But I'll ever ask, 'Is determination idiosyncratic who truly wants a challenge?' and boy, the toughest kid steps forward. We springiness them Hope, the donkey, and beauteous soon they're similar this [fingers crossed]; champion buds. Like, she gets it. You're strong-willed, I'm strong-willed, you cognize what, we tin bash this together!"

Bell said she started the nonprofit truthful she could harvester her passionateness for helping radical with her emotion of horses.

"I deliberation I came retired of the womb and said, 'mommy, daddy, horsey!'" Bell joked.

This communicative was primitively reported by Karen Lehr connected KIVITV.com.