MINI THERAPY HORSES

Our goal is to bring joy, comfort and hope to those who need it most. Mini Therapy Horses was founded in 2008 by Victoria Nodiff-Netanel and is a recognized leader in equine therapy with miniature horses. Mini Therapy Horses conducts regular visits at Shriners for Children Medical Center in Pasadena, Ronald McDonald House in both Pasadena and Los Angeles, the Department of Children and Family Services Juvenile Court, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, the Greater Los Angeles Veteran's Hospital and L.A. Family Housing, amongst others. Whether comforting children bedside after surgery as they come out of anesthesia or visiting with a veteran who just wants to sit quietly and share space with one of our horses, the MTH team is there to bring a sense of calm, comfort and happiness.

As members of the Los Angeles Mayor's Crisis Response Team, our highly trained teams offer resources and support to survivors of traumatic incidents city-wide. These little horse heroes have responded to tragedies like the mass shootings in San Bernardino, Las Vegas and Thousand Oaks and also served as first-responders during the Woolsey Fire. Additionally, we are proud to be a part of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Community Outreach Program, helping to create bridges between law enforcement and the community.

Mini Therapy Horses has proudly participated in the Rose Parade in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022. Our award winning program has been featured in numerous publications and television shows, including The Kelly Clarkson Show, California Live, People Magazine and National Geographic's, This Book Is Cute: The Soft and Squishy Science and Culture of Awe.

Research has shown that experiences with miniature horses can help regulate blood pressure, decrease feelings of loneliness and depression, reduce stress and anxiety, and provide a positive motivating stimulus. Mini Therapy Horses engages the special bond between people and horses to help children and adults find comfort and gain confidence. Our horses have a truly unique way of connecting with people, even when people are initially resistant or afraid. One of the benefits of these relationships is that there is not a need for well-developed social and communication skills. Our horses have instant connections with people. Working in collaboration with the horse, we make ourselves emotionally available in every way to the person. It’s about opening our hearts and helping the person make a connection with the mini horse while staying completely nonjudgmental. We create a memorable interaction that is healing and comforting for the people who have experienced a tragedy. We foster positive relationships with the organizers of the various facilities we work with, create a fun and engaging experience for our volunteers, and most of all promote the positive benefits in the children and adults who meet the miniature horses. We help not only those who are suffering but also their families, as well as the medical staff, who are critical in their treatment.
At the Veterans Hospital, Victoria, our founder, partners with a rehabilitation specialist, works with patients in the lockdown psychiatric ward. The interaction with the horse promotes more social interaction which helps with depression, focus, and navigating group settings. These interactions are focused on having physical contact with the horse. It is very therapeutic for patients who are isolated and depressed. It brings them joy and a sense of relief. Patients open up and reflect on childhood memories about their own experiences of being close to an animal. The horse is the vehicle of the physical interaction and discussion. The doctors and advocates say that patient interactions with the horses provide a way to connect with patients. Discussing the miniature horses provides a window into patients who are reluctant to engage.
During a Ronald McDonald House visit, MTH teams help children who have had surgeries or those who have a new prosthesis. We utilize "double leash walking", where a horse-handler and the child jointly walk a horse. The child, with their walker or in their wheelchair, holds one of the leads and the handler has the other, ensuring safety and control with the horse. Children feel empowered, confident, and proud and have fun in a way that distracts them from their current situation. Families feel joy to see their child experience happiness and normalcy.
We tailor our interactions to the specific needs of each facility we visit.
MTH also provides Equine Assisted Therapy to survivors and families of traumatic events such as the 2018 Borderline and 2017 Las Vegas mass shootings.

Mini Therapy Horses has nine teams of highly trained miniature therapy horses and certified handlers. Every detail of our premier facility ensures comfort for our horses and ease of use for our volunteers and staff. We have a training and certification program for volunteers to ensure that everyone works with best practices. MTH has two Sprinter vans to transport our horses and volunteers to events and visits. We are supported by our sponsors, donations from foundations, and individual grants.

Ongoing Scheduled Programs:

~Greater Los Angeles Veterans’ Hospital
Weekly visits since 2009 with the oncology unit, the rehabilitation unit, and the lock- down psychiatric ward
~UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center
UCLA Health People-Animal Connection, visiting staff and students. Our horse Blue Moon is the first miniature horse with this program that includes 80 dog teams. We visit We visit patients, medical staff, and visitors.
~Shriners for Children Medical Center
Visit children in recovery, patients with anxiety before their appointments, iv patients, and medical staff.
~Department of Children and Family Services, Juvenile Court
Provide support and relief to children who have to testify against their abusers and to children removed from abusive homes who are being processed through the system.

~Ronald McDonald Houses in Pasadena and Los Angeles
Visit children going through medical procedures and staying at Ronald McDonald homes with their families.

~LA Family Housing for homeless families

~Los Angeles Mayor’s Crisis Response team
Victoria Netanel, Steve Sullivan, on call 24/7 to respond to critical events. This team works to comfort people during and after traumatic events.

~Private Therapy Sessions

~Cliffside Malibu
Drug and Rehabilitation Center

~A Place Called Home
At-risk youth center in South Central, Los Angeles

~We have been honored to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade for five years. Including 2020, whose theme, “The Power of Hope,” crystallized our mission at Mini Therapy Horses.

~During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mini Therapy Horses has providing virtual sessions with hospitals and schools. After the pandemic has passed, we will continue to provide virtual visits to acute patients in hospitals.

We are always expanding our programming to reach more people in need. With more financial support, we will be able to vastly increase our number of visits and continue with our current programs.