02/07/2026
What makes a good therapy pony?
I get asked a lot of questions about the D***s, but this has to be in the top five questions most asked.
And really it’s not just about the pony and its temperament, it’s actually a lot to do with the handler, the environment they’re in and the relationship they have with each other.
Trust and love are major factors. Without either I believe my role at bringing people enrichment is void. Nada. Nothing.
The role the handler plays is just as important as the enrichment itself.
Which is why I spend time in the field with my ponies, getting to know them, learning about them and understanding them. It’s why I sit in the stable with them when there’s a storm and they are scared and need to be reassured. It’s why I talk to them to tell them it’s ok. And it’s why I will never put them in a situation they aren’t happy with.
Trust is earnt, not a given. And I need to trust them, just as much as they need to trust me.
Every one of my ponies is an individual. They all have different personalities, different strengths, and different needs, which means they often require different approaches.
Taking the time to understand and respect those differences is what allows them to do what they do so beautifully.
A good therapy pony isn’t simply calm or well trained. They’re a willing partner, supported by a relationship built on patience, kindness, trust, and love.
When we take the time to truly listen, to understand, and to build that bond, they give us their whole hearts.
I think we humans could learn a lot from that.
Love, trust, and kindness are reflected back in the way we give them, and I think there’s a lesson in that for all of us x
