Oscar Wilde remarked, “Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us.”

I’m certain most of us have fond memories of our first job.  There was a great feeling of freedom in earning our own money and being able to responsibly spend it ourselves (okay, sometimes not so responsibly!)

Suffering from dementia, our Hospice at Home patient has difficulty recalling events from her life.  When able, she will fondly discuss with our staff her first job.  As a teenager she worked on a farm taking care of the draft horses.  She was responsible for their care, including feeding and grooming; it was through this work that she developed a real love for horses.  During one of these conversations with a staff member she was asked if she would like to go see some horses and she eagerly agreed.

A local equestrian center readily embraced the idea and arrangements were made to transport our patient to the horses.  Accompanied by her home health aide and social worker, at first she was somewhat reluctant to leave the comfort of home but once she was able to approach the horses her outlook changed.  Sitting in a wheelchair and wearing a cowboy hat and bandana she was able, from her wheelchair, to stroke the horse’s nose and neck and hand feed them.  She was delighted to be in the presence of horses once again – it had been so many years.

"Horses change lives. They give our young people confidence and self esteem. They provide peace and tranquility to troubled souls- they give us hope!" ~ Toni Robinson