Healing often starts with a small step. In this case, it was a step out the front door, into the fresh air, and toward gentle mini-horses with big, curious eyes.
Earlier this fall, one of Eliot’s mental health group home programs hosted its first annual Mini Horse Therapy Event, transforming the group home’s outdoor space into a small, calm gathering place filled with laughter, connection, and a lot of soft noses. Two miniature horses from a rescue-based therapeutic animal organization spent the afternoon with clients and staff, offering a unique, nature-centered way to support mental health and community connection.
What began as a simple idea—“What if we brought mini horses to the house?”—quickly grew into something meaningful.
Trotting out the idea
Staff in our mental health residential programs have been thinking intentionally about how to build more nature-based, low-pressure experiences into clients’ lives. Many individuals we support live with significant anxiety, trauma histories, or social stressors that can make everyday activities—like leaving the house, joining a community group, or trying something new—feel overwhelming.
The team wanted to create an event that was:
- Gentle and non-intimidating
- Centered around nature and animals
- Flexible enough for clients to engage at their own pace
They connected with a local organization that provides rescue and therapeutic animals, including miniature horses, for community visits. These animals are accustomed to being around people in a variety of settings and are selected and trained for their calm, friendly demeanor.
Mini horses, in particular, felt like the right choice. Many clients might be understandably nervous around full-sized horses, but the smaller height and approachable presence of mini horses can make the experience more inviting.
Although the event was primarily geared toward residential clients, staff decided to extend the invitation to outreach clients as well. The goal was to create a shared experience that crossed program lines, helping people feel part of something larger than their individual setting.
Clients from several group homes, along with a handful of outreach participants, came together in the yard behind the residence. For some, attending meant overcoming a big internal hurdle: simply leaving their room or stepping outside can be a major act of courage. The mini horses offered a natural focal point, something warm, nonjudgmental, and engaging to center attention on.
An afternoon of equine peace
The event itself was purposefully simple and relaxed. Clients and staff were able to:
- Spend unstructured time petting and interacting with the mini horses
- Take photos—with the animals, with each other, and with staff
- Enjoy snacks and time outdoors, with space to sit, talk, or just observe
Rather than a tightly scheduled program, the visit was designed as a drop-in, move-at-your-own-pace experience. Some clients spent long stretches at the horses’ side, brushing them and talking softly to them. Others preferred to watch from a little distance at first, gradually moving closer once they felt more comfortable.
Equine and animal-assisted therapies are used in many settings, such as hospitals and community-based programs, because of their ability to provide comfort and emotional regulation. Being around animals can reduce stress, lower anxiety, and help people feel more present in their bodies.
“I would say it’s a grounding experience to have a living being there with you. It’s something that can really help people cope with stress,” said Nate LeGallo, ACCS Regional Director, who helped organize the event.
For our clients, the benefits showed up in several ways:
- Grounding and calming: Having a quiet, living being in front of you—one that is calm, curious, and nonjudgmental—can help bring attention away from racing thoughts and back into the moment.
- Stress relief and comfort: Clients often carry significant emotional and mental burdens. Gentle physical contact, like petting a horse’s neck or feeling its breath, can provide a sensory experience that’s different from talking or traditional therapeutic activities.
- Exposure in a safe way: For some individuals, being in a group or community setting can be triggering or anxiety-provoking. Staff noticed that during the event, even those who typically experience high anxiety in groups appeared more relaxed and engaged. The presence of the horses helped shift the focus away from social pressure and onto a shared, positive experience.
- A bridge to nature and community: Positive experiences like this can help spark interest in other nature-based or community activities such as walking in a park, visiting an animal shelter, or exploring volunteer opportunities. When someone has a successful, enjoyable experience outdoors, it can make future steps feel more possible.
Toward more nature-based programming
This mini-horse visit wasn’t just a one-time, feel-good moment. It’s part of a broader effort to bring more creative, nature-connected experiences into Eliot’s mental health programming.
Staff plan to make the Mini-Horse Therapy Event a recurring tradition. There is also interest in exploring additional nature-based ideas inspired by the success of this event, such as:
- Guided or informal nature walks
- Additional visits with other therapy animals
- Small-group outdoor activities that help build comfort and routine around being outside and in community
Each of these experiences supports core recovery goals: building confidence, expanding comfort zones, and helping clients feel more connected to nature, to each other, and to themselves.
Mini-horses, lasting impact
By the end of the afternoon, the yard was filled with small, quiet moments that added up to something powerful: smiles, shared jokes, gentle touches, and the simple joy of being outside together.
For clients who often carry heavy anxiety or stress, the fact that no one appeared visibly anxious despite being in a group setting is meaningful. It speaks to the unique power of animal-assisted, nature-based experiences to soften the edges of fear and hold space for connection.
The horses may have been small, but their impact was anything but. As we look ahead to future events and new ideas, this fall’s Mini Horse Therapy Event is a reminder that sometimes healing happens with just a step into the yard, breaths of fresh air, and a soft nuzzle from a new four-legged friend.
