Therapy Ponies Visit Local Care Home Resident

Barbara Freeman, a resident at Croston Park Care Home in Lancashire has seen a long-held wish come true after her son and staff arranged for two therapy ponies to visit her in her room as part of the home’s Golden Wishes campaign.

Croston Park, located in the village of Croston, is part of the Park Lane Healthcare Group. The home provides residential and dementia care and places strong emphasis on person centred support tailored to each individual resident.

For Barbara, who has been living at Croston Park for around three months, that wish was simple but deeply meaningful. She wanted to see a horse again.

A lifelong animal lover, Barbara often speaks about her beloved horse Sasha and her memories of riding ponies in the Lake District as a schoolgirl.

During a conversation with wellbeing coordinator Jenny Forrest, she shared just how much those memories still mean to her.

From that moment, the team began quietly planning how to bring a pony to Barbara.

Because Barbara has mobility issues, arrangements were made for the therapy ponies to visit her directly in her room, ensuring she could enjoy the experience comfortably and safely. The surprise was kept under wraps until a week before the visit, when Barbara’s son, David Freeman, helped her open an invitation revealing what was to come.

On the day itself, Barbara was joined by her son, David. Staff described the atmosphere as emotional, with Barbara visibly moved as she stroked the ponies, Foxy and Squirrel, and reflected on her younger years.

Golden Wishes is an initiative run across the Park Lane Healthcare Group designed to uncover dreams and long-cherished desires that residents have always wanted to experience and then make them happen. From small surprises to once-in-a-lifetime moments, the campaign aims to bring joy and personal meaning into everyday life at the home.

Barbara Freeman said: “It brought back such happy memories.”

She added: “I’ve always loved animals more than people!”

Jenny Forrest, well-being coordinator at Croston Park said:
“Barbara was telling me how much she has always loved horses, and she said she would absolutely love to see one again.

“From that moment, we knew we had to make it happen.

“Barbara couldn’t thank us enough. It was such a beautiful moment, and it meant the world to her. These are the experiences that really matter.”