Sherwood Grange welcomes furry friend

Home news

Oct 22, 2018

Residents at Sherwood Grange were delighted to welcome a special guest when Sooty the pony visited the home.

The friendly pony created a stir when she trotted into Sherwood Grange, surprising residents after they had talked about their passion for horses. 

Residents Michael Ver, who grew up in a small village in Hungary and remembers his early years living on a farm with horses, and Audrey East, who had a stables at her childhood home, were particularly enamoured with their new furry friend. 

Everyone was thrilled to have the opportunity to stroke and pet her, as well as enjoy an informative talk on her personality and how she is cared for. Sooty was rescued by her owner, Maxine, and now spends her days happily visiting care homes and enjoying the fuss and attention.

Sooty was also taken on a tour of the care home, visiting residents’ rooms to ensure everyone had the opportunity to meet and interact with her.  

Rick Mayne, home manager at Sherwood Grange, said: “It was wonderful to see the smiles on everyone’s faces when Sooty arrived at Sherwood Grange. Her visit created rather a lot of excitement among the residents and team. 

“Petting animals and being in their company has proven therapeutic benefits, particularly for those living with dementia, and you could see from the residents’ reactions just how engaged they were when given the opportunity to get so close to such a lovely, affectionate animal.”