HONOLULU (HI Now) - Nancy Ayotte stood beside Karma, a miniature horse whose presence at 15 Craigside senior living facility represented years of passion coming together.
Residents and passersby gathered to see the miniature horses that visited the facility through Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii. For Ayotte, a resident at 15 Craigside who helped bring the animals to the facility, the moment fulfilled a longtime dream.
Ayotte has worked with horses for nine years and with miniature horses for seven years. She said the horses are her passion and have always been. Animals do more for people than most other things in life because they are so different, she said.
From her room upstairs, Ayotte can see the dog park and watch people interact with animals. Being a resident at 15 Craigside allowed her to share her passion with the community, she said.
Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii, based in Waimanalo on the polo field, operates nine large horses and two miniature horses. The organization uses the large horses for therapeutic riding programs for children. The miniature horses visit care homes and Shriners Hospital.
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The horses come to places where they have never been before, and most people have never seen them before, Ayotte said. She said she cannot even describe the therapy that she has gotten from working with the horses.
The organization has facilitated visits for wounded warriors and made it possible for an 80-year-old blind man to ride a horse for the last time in his life.
Ayotte said she thanked everyone who had something to do with letting the horses come to the facility.
Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii operates on volunteers.
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