Sunset Mountain Miniatures
© 2004-2017 Sunset Mountain Miniatures
Therapy Horses
As of 2017 there are seven Sunset Mountain horses working in
equine therapy organizations. Most of these therapy horses
have completed or are now going through rigorous training.
They must be house broken. They have to be able to go up and
down stairs and ramps. They must be able to walk without
slipping on slick tile floors, or be comfortable wearing rubber
shoes. They must be able to ride up and down elevators without
fear. They have to be calm around hospital life support and
monitoring equipment. They have to be fearless when mobbed
by children. They must be calm and quiet while next to those
who are afraid, upset, or have trauma.
The ancient Greeks discovered that horses can have a calming
effect and a healing influence on those who are sick or injured.
These equine therapy horses work in children’s hospitals,
children’s homes and support centers like Ronald McDonald
houses, shelters, and in nursing homes.
You will find few photographs of these horses working inside of
hospitals. Due to privacy rules, most facilities do not permit
inside pictures.
Here at Sunset Mountain Miniatures we believe that the way
we handle and treat our horses as babies gives them a solid
foundation for therapy work. But the real training starts when
these horses begin their training in an equine therapy
organization. We are honored that so many of our horses have
been found to be suitable for therapy work.
Here is a list of some of the therapy organizations we have sold
horses to: Please donate to any of these groups if you possibly
can.
Mini Hooves of Love
254-592-6815
Click on each picture.
Monarch was the first Sunset Mountain horse to become a
therapy horse. His home is Mini Hooves of Love, where he has
thrilled countless children on therapy visits. Monarch visits the
Ronald McDonald House (a home for families with sick
children in a nearby hospital) on a regular basis, along with
children’s hospitals and nursing homes. Monarch has also
taken part in many parades. He is one of three current therapy
horses at MHOL. His friends include Star and Hope. Monarch
is also very involved in anti-bullying programs and support for
police organizations (“Back the Blue”).
The logo for MHOL is based on Monarch
Monarch is one of two therapy horses sired by our famous
jumper, Troubles Exemplary (“Larry”).
If you shop at Amazon, it is possible to donate to MHOL with
every purchase. Go to http://smile.amazon.com.
Star is another horse serving at Mini Hooves of Love.
Star was sired by our stallion “Eagle”. Eagle’s foals often have
blue eyes. He gave Star her beautiful blue eyes.
Note the shoes that Star is wearing in some of these pictures.
Cowboy Up Therapies is based in Hockley, Texas. They provide
equine therapy and speech therapy. Sunset Mountain KaBoom
joined Cowboy Up in 2015. KaBoom got his name from being
born the week of July 4th.
Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas has an equine
therapy program. Known as TREAT (Tarleton Equine Assisted
Therapeutic Riding) it is primarily a therapeutic riding program.
Sunset Mountain Scooter joined TREAT in 2016.
Scooter is shown above with his slightly larger friend “Tonka”.
Sunset Mountain Itsy Bitsy was a Larry foal born in 2016. Like
all Larry babies she is small, social, and intelligent. Itsy Bitsy is
now in training with Glenna Adams. Glenna is the
grandmother of Haley Carsten. Glenna is training Itsy Bitsy to
pass the Pet Partners certification that is required of most
therapy horses. Glenna will be starting her own therapy
organization soon. When she does we will add more pictures
here.
Some of these pictures show Itsy Bitsy with our friend Gracie
McBride when she was just a few days old.
“Blue” is a 2014 colt. He is black & white with blue eyes. Blue
was actually nicknamed “Houdini” at first due to his amazing
escape ability. He got out of his pen 3 times the day he was
born. His mother was NOT happy. He is social, active, and
fearless. All excellent traits for a therapy horse.
Blue’s sire is Eagle. Blue is the brother of Star. Blue is currently
in training at Mini Hooves of Love. He is scheduled to transfer
to another therapy facility in Florida later in 2017.
“WHERE DID THAT BOY GO??!!!!”
