ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – In hospitals, the sound of clip-clopping hooves is not something you expect to hear — but at AdventHealth in Altamonte Springs, it has become a welcome diversion.
An organization called “Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures” allows patients across Central Florida to benefit from an uncommon yet heartwarming form of therapy: miniature horses.
Founded in 2018 by Mary Rose Gullet, Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings therapy horses to hospitals, nursing homes, and local schools. The organization’s journey began on Gullet’s family farm with a miniature horse named “Honey,” gifted to Gullet’s daughter on her second birthday.
What began as volunteer work quickly revealed a need for this unique service in the healthcare and mental health community.
Gullet added, “We feel like Honey’s a gift that we have the ability to share with everyone.”
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Gullet and her team also began to learn the powerful effect their therapy horses had on patients, especially those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
“The horses’ smells, sight, and touch bring back long-forgotten memories,” Gullet explained.
The impact extends beyond the patients.
“Dementia, autism, cancer — they affect not only the individual but also their family members and caretakers. This therapy touches everyone,” she said.
Since starting with one horse, the organization has expanded to over 15 horses, a team of dedicated volunteers, a hardworking board of directors, and three Honey “mini-vans.” So far, they have made more than 1,300 visits across the region.
“Hospitals are my favorite place to visit because you reach all aspects of the community — seniors, kids, adults, even the homeless population,” Gullet remarked in an interview with News 6 at AdventHealth in Altamonte Springs. “This hospital, Altamonte Springs, is the very first hospital that ever let me in the front door and now we visit over 22 of their campuses.”
The impact of these visits goes beyond a simple smile. The miniature horses offer therapeutic benefits, helping patients forget their medical challenges, even if just for a moment.
One patient, Gina Gaines, who’s been in and out of the hospital since December, expressed her appreciation: “It’s a great program. Lightens up the day. It makes everybody smile, whether you feel bad or not.”
Gaines was visited by one of the standout horses in the program, Dumpling. Dumpling was donated in 2017 by a family in memory of their daughter, who used to avidly show miniature horses. Now, Dumpling continues the girl’s love for horses by offering comfort to patients.
Training these miniature horses is key to their success.
“We train the horses at least once a week because they’re all at different levels in the program,” Gullet said.
They train the horses to function amid the unique challenges presented by hospitals and schools, such as noisy hallways, walking on soft pads used to protect patients who are a fall risk, and riding in elevators.
The training helps the horses connect with patients in ways that other therapies cannot. Most equine therapy programs happen onsite at stables or farms; however, Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures brings the horses directly to patients.
The impact of Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures is perhaps best summed up by a letter Gullet recently received from Veterans Elementary in Ocala, where the horses have visited for the past five years.
“Students who participated in the therapy sessions showed significant improvements in their emotional well-being,” the letter read. “Many staff members have expressed that their interactions with the mini therapy horses have contributed to a more positive and balanced work environment.”
For Gullet and her team, responses like these make it all worthwhile.
“It gives me goosebumps all over,” she said. “It proves that what we’re doing matters and makes all the hard work worth it.”
Honey’s Mini Therapy Adventures continues to grow with the support of volunteers, sponsors, and donations. To learn more about this nonprofit and how you can support their work, visit minitherapy.org.
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