Children having fun with Dolly and Lillie and LHBH facilitators.
Sue Robisch
It’s October 31 and Lillie and Dolly are getting all dressed up in their finest Halloween costumes. What are they doing? Where are they going? Why, they are going to the Children’s Clinic of Tucson to celebrate Halloween with their friends. You see, Lillie and Dolly are therapy horses and the Children’s Clinic provides outpatient medical care to children with special healthcare needs.
Lillie and Dolly are two of the miniature horses in the equine-guided therapy program at Little Hooves and Big Hearts in Oracle, AZ. LHBH partners with the Children’s Clinic with scheduled therapeutic visits every few weeks. But this day is a special occasion. It’s Halloween! Over 400 children and their families are attending the party. They are excited, but even more excited, and surprised, to see their equine friends, Lillie and Dolly.
The children are all in costume, many have been made by their parents. In fact, the parents are wearing costumes, too. You can imagine what they thought when they saw the minis in costume. “A horse wearing wings.”
The people of LHBH, therapists and volunteers, often witness that special connection between the miniature horses and the children. But it was even more delightful, in this special setting, to see the smiles and the looks of amazement on the children’s faces when they saw Lillie and Dolly at their party. And then, to top it all off, each child had his/her picture taken with them. What a Halloween!
The Children’s Clinic of Tucson is a nonprofit organization providing outpatient medical care to children with special healthcare needs.
Little Hooves and Big Hearts is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization providing equine-assisted therapy to children with special needs.
For more information on LHBH visit our website at www.littlehooves.org or call our office at 520-896-2820.