A team of miniature therapy horses in Greece spreads happiness and offers support to children, the elderly, and those in care homes, despite ongoing financial challenges.
Around nine miniature horses are spreading joy to the most vulnerable communities in Athens, Greece, as a charity brings these tiny therapy equines to schools and care homes.
The horses with big personalities measure just 75 centimetres tall but “continue to do a fantastic and special job of providing therapy,” local officials say.
The horses are owned by Gentle Carousel Greece, a branch of a Florida-based charity founded in 2014 by interior designer and architect Mina Karagianni.
Funded entirely by Karagianni’s day work, the charity now cares for six American miniature horses sent by the US charity, one born in Greece, and two rescued ponies — Billy the Shetland pony and Giselle, both rescued from the island of Santorini.
“We provide psychological support to children facing difficulties, as well as the elderly, including those in nursing homes, Alzheimer’s centres, hospitals, oncology units, rehabilitation centres, and hospices,” says Karagianni.
“We offer them strength and joy to overcome certain fears, certain stressful states of their psyche. And we succeed with very tangible results.”
Training a horse to work in such settings takes two years, ensuring they are comfortable and effective in providing support to vulnerable individuals.
Meeting residents in psychiatric homes
Karagianni and a trainer, Ali, took a 12-year-old miniature grey and white stallion, Omiros (Homer in Greek) to meet residents of an adult psychiatric care home in Greek capital.
They travelled in a van originally designed to transport disabled passengers, which turned out to be the perfect fit for the tiny horse.
Once Omiros arrived, he quickly made friends. The interactions were invaluable, according to the staff.
“There are therapeutic approaches like riding. Contact with animals is called pet therapy, if you’ve heard of it, so it’s something that’s well known because contact with animals calms us down, relieves us, and we find even a brief moment of tenderness again,” says Alex Krokidas, a social worker and the centre manager.
Residents full of praise for their miniature visitors
“When he was here, he gave me a beautiful feeling. After he left, I had an absence in my body; I miss the animal; I loved it,” said one resident, Giorgos.
Next, it was Ivi and Calypso’s turn to bring joy to a school for children with special needs.
Nine-year-old Josifina Topa Mazuch slowly moved her wheelchair forward to meet the horses, creating a special memory she will cherish.
“Two beautiful ponies came; I patted them, took them for a walk, kissed them, and I really want them to come again. I felt very happy,” she says.
Teachers are noticing immediate benefits.
“Today we saw the children happy. We saw them reaching out, mobilising, and interacting. We saw them finally becoming active, touching the horses, and forming connections. Some children went for rides, while others helped each other, fostering interaction between them,” says Eleni Volikaki, a special needs teacher.
But the question remains: how much longer will the horses be able to carry out this vital work?
Charity is struggling to make ends meet
Mina Karagianni says while she is happy to see the smiles on the faces of many who meet with the loveable miniature horses, she is now struggling to finance the work.
Before the pandemic, Karagianni ran a small cafe near the stables and a space for children’s parties and baptisms. She operated on weekends and charged a small entrance fee to help cover expenses such as bedding, specialised food, and veterinary care.
But lockdown meant the closure of the cafe, and she hasn’t been able to reopen it since then. According to her, personal health problems have also added to the financial strain.
At one point, both the electricity and water companies cut off her supply, leaving her reliant on neighbours to get water for the animals.
She’s got the utilities running again, but still owes thousands of euros. Approaches to companies and institutions for funding have been unsuccessful so far, she said.
For this Christmas, Karagianni has only one wish.
“If there is something we wish and hope for now, it is that somehow this action can be supported financially so that it can be sustainable and we can create a team and have a bigger and better result,” she says.
