When someone is diagnosed with a severe condition and is hospitalized, it is not only physically painful, but also emotionally painful. Doctors, nurses, and specialists will visit patients’ room throughout the day with information that can be overwhelming. There will be lab tests that include biopsies, blood work and urine samples, and if there are different medications involved, that can add to the confusion and frustration.

Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures founded in 2018 by Mary Rose Gullet is a portable, equine program that was named after one of her miniature horses, Honey.

The program provides individuals emotional support– therapeutic interactions with miniature horses.  Many of these patients or clients are served in different institutions such as hospitals, schools, and wellness facilities.

At Davis Island Park which is near Tampa General Hospital, Gullet prepped Belle in her jogging shoes and saddle where multiple kids surrounded the mini—one of the superstars!

Lisa Slaughter, a volunteer who works with Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures was assisting the prep and educating the children on Belle’s background and health.

Belle takes special eyedrops to assist with eye problems and sees a veterinarian regularly.  Also, she eats 2 flakes of hay a day (10 pounds).

Interestingly, one of Belle’s favorite treats are spearmints which one of the kids gave her.

11-year old, Justin Feuerherdt, a recent patient at Tampa General Hospital who was recovering from a severe episode of Steven Johnson Syndrome and RIME enjoyed interacting with Belle because of her calm demeanor. Gullet had mentioned that the calm, heart rate of a horse will pacify a person who is in the same proximity of the horse.  There have been studies that have shown synchronized connection between the heart and the brain especially in equine-assisted learning and social bonding.

When there is uncertainty with a person’s illness, programs that involve animals to assist with grief, memory, and trauma have been comforting and vital in a person’s mental state.