Poole care home residents welcome Mr Kelloggs the pony

Mr Kelloggs joined residents in The Links Bupa Care Home lounge, in a session organised by Linking Hearts Therapy Horses and The Links’ Activity Co-ordinator.

One resident, Pam Clements, aged 89, said: “It was a lovely afternoon with Kelloggs. He is a beautiful boy, so small and soft. I cannot wait to see him again soon.”

Another resident, June Smith, aged 89, said: “It was a great afternoon with our visit from Kelloggs. It was a lovely thing for the home to organise for us all.”

Linking Hearts Therapy Horses, ran by Sharon Gledhill and he daughter Megan, bought Kelloggs in 2021 and have been looking after him since.

Kelloggs has had training to become accustomed to different sounds and surfaces to ensure he is comfortable around the care home residents.

Sharon Gledhill from Linking Hearts said: “Seeing the residents faces light up at the sight of Kelloggs was priceless, it was something I will never forget.”

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Home Manager, Denise Arthur-Briskham, said: “Our residents love animals so much.

“It was lovely to welcome Kelloggs and his owner, Sharon, to the home.

“Animal therapy sessions are incredibly beneficial to our residents’ well-being as they create such a relaxing environment.

“It was also lovely to see residents reminisce about the past and hear about all the different animals they have had and enjoyed as pets over the course of their lives.”

Residents and staff at The Links are looking forward to more animal therapy sessions with Kelloggs in the coming weeks and months.

The Links Bupa Care Home is located in Broadstone, Poole and welcomes residents in need of nursing or residential care including those living with dementia, Huntington’s, or Parkinson’s.