Saturday was spent "horsing" around at the Lutheran Home

This past Saturday, the Lutheran Home hosted two special visitors that were both under the height of four feet and walked on four legs. Mane in Heaven, a 501(c)(3) organization based out of Palatine, provides animal therapy and animal assisted activities to senior living communities, schools and hospitals using miniature horses. The residents thoroughly enjoyed spending time with their fuzzy, four-legged friends.

Mane in Heaven is an entirely volunteer-run organization, with around 45 volunteers that help provide and encourage the unconditional, gentle love the miniature horses provide to those they spend time with. Individuals can watch, pet, brush and hug the miniature horses, all of which the residents were able to enjoy both inside and outside with the two miniature horses, Mystery and Lunar, that were at the community Saturday.

Over 140 residents and families came to the courtyard at the Lutheran Home to see the miniature horses and spend time with them. One resident said to a staff member that the horses “weren’t only a treat- they were pure pleasure.”

According to the mission statement of Mane in Heaven, the goal of animal assisted therapy and activities is to improve outcomes of physical, mental and emotional well-being, the effects of which seen in the residents the horses interacted with Saturday.

The horses and trainers are certified to provide animal assisted activities and therapy. Mane in Heaven has registered Pet Partner teams for their animal assisted therapy program. Pet Partner is a national organization that determines whether therapy animals and their handlers are ready for visits to hospitals, senior living communities or schools. Each Executive Board member of Mane in Heaven is part of a registered Pet Partner team.

The day was full of laughter and joy, as the residents got to experience the joy the miniature horses bring to all they work with.