Little Katie is a registered Shetland pony whose job is to bring happiness and comfort to people and other horses. She is part of the Personal Ponies Program and has seen the inside of many hospitals and nursing homes, where she has made many sad or ill people smile.
Nick was a former show horse who had major surgery on his shoulder, which left him confined to his stall for one year while he healed. During that year he became very sad. He stopped eating and started biting himself out of frustration. The veterinarians weren't sure how to help him recover and were running out of options for trying to save him. They understood his depression came from being isolated from other horses, and that he was lonely. His owner was willing to do anything for the horse she loved.
Who better to help lift his spirits than tiny Little Katie?
Little Katie was moved right into the stall with Nick. At first, he was so afraid of her he flattened himself against the wall and shook until his legs grew weary. But it didn't take long before the two were inseparable. Nick started eating again and came out of his depression, and his grooms were able to start letting him take baby steps outside his stall. Although he'll never be ridden again, he eventually healed enough to be retired in a nice field where his owner gets to visit him every day.
* Do you know where Shetland ponies originally came from?
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