It’s not uncommon for animal lovers to take service dogs into hospitals or seniors’ residences to boost morale or bring some cheer. But it’s less common to see larger animals in those institutions. Not for Jessie Ykema, who has been spending some of her free time bringing her miniature horses to visit seniors as a way to connect with the community and share her love of horses with others.
Ykema started this hobby because she noticed how happy it made people when she would bring her dog to the residence where her grandmother lives. Seeing how the residents interacted with her dog inspired her. “By having my miniature ponies, I figured if I bring them for a visit, they could bring out a similar effect – but a little more unique, as they are a bit more of a rarity,” she says. The first time she brought the horses to a residence was Christmas 2024, in hopes it would bring a little bit of Christmas magic for the people she visited.
Since starting the visits, the response from everyone has been quite warm and positive. “The staff are a great help navigating me and helping members to experience the ponies. I believe the experience I bring to the residences is unique in the sense that this is volunteer work for me with my pet ponies, meaning they exhibit behaviors most therapy animals do not,” Ykema says. A lot of the residents get a kick out of the way the ponies snort, paw, and whinney. “Many see these little moments and begin telling stories about when they were younger, with a lot of them coming from an agricultural background. It reminds them of home, and being a farmer myself, I can relate with them to their stories,” she adds.
Horses have always been a part of Ykema’s life. “My parents had me on my own pony by the age of three, and the hobby remained since then,” she explains. This kind of volunteering helps her be connected to the animals, and it’s something she hopes someone will do for her when she is older. Plus, she says, “It helps boost their spirits – some staff members too! It puts a little bit of ‘yee-haw’ back into their days. Giving a little goes a long way.”
When Ykema is in public with her horses, anyone is welcome to come up and meet them. She says, “Animal education is really important to me, so it’s an opportunity I have to show the public some of the great things that can be accomplished by having knowledge and respect for animals.”
For anyone interested in having a visit from some miniature horses, Ykema is taking requests. She can be contacted via Facebook messenger, under the name Jessie Leblanc Ykema.