Tea With A Pony
Join Acer, our Shetland therapy pony for tea, cakes, a natter and a cuddle. Our tea parties are for anyone who would enjoy this unique experience and is also suitable for people living with dementia or similar conditions and the elderly, along with carers.
We’ve been delivering Tea with a Pony to people living with dementia and similar conditions for several years, but have now opened the regular monthly event to anyone who feels they would benefit from spending time with the Centre’s gentle ponies.
We offer a walm welcome, a cup of tea and delicious home-made cakes and scones and a tour of the Centre to meet our ponies. Acer will join you for tea in our conference room – he’s very well behaved and loves being the centre of attention!
Trustee Joan Northend, who runs the event and bakes all the cakes with Trustee Pat White said, “We find that people living with dementia, additional needs and mental health problems find the connection with animals to be helpful. Ponies are especially attuned to people’s mood and can provide a calming effect reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, increasing positive emotions, decreasing depression and increasing social connection skills.
She went on, “Not everyone is able, or wants to ride horses, but we can offer an alternative in the form of spending time with a pony. It can be a really special relationship.”
We offer 90-minute sessions on the third Wednesday of each month from 10:30 to 12:00 or 13:00 to 14:30. They cost £5 for each visitor, and must be pre-booked by calling 01642 576222.
