An elderly man who is unable to leave his home was thrilled to receive a visit from a horse.
Terry Davis has been treated in his home by staff from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust over the last few months due to a life-limiting condition.
Mr Davis has been cared for by his physiotherapist Debra Alton, who has been providing a range of therapeutic interventions for him.
Ms Alton discovered that she and Mr Davis had a joint love for horses – at one point Mr Davis had owned 15 horses but was sadly forced to rehome them due to his deteriorating health.
MS Alton said: “We often exchanged experiences during his physiotherapy sessions about them and this gave Terry a lot of comfort talking about normal life situations rather than the constant reminder about his ill health and made him feel like a normal person.
“I always joked about that one day I was going to bring my horse to meet him and that I would just turn up with my trailer and he could see him from the window.”
But then Ms Alton realised she could actually make this happen and decided to bring her own horse, Mr Riley, a 21-year-old gelding, to Mr Davis's front garden to meet him – with consent from his family.
He was able to stroke and feed Mr Riley from the open window in his front room with family, friends and neighbours watching on.
Ms Alton added: “The whole experience was amazing. Terry did not know it was happening and his wife Janet just said that she had a surprise for him. Terry was completely overwhelmed, as were his family and others watching on.
“I think if Mr Riley was invited in he would have quite happily gone in the house!
“Horses have been widely used for their therapeutic qualities with a wide variety of people with disabilities and post-traumatic stress disorders.”
Mr Davis, who continues to be cared for by the team at his home, said: “I was so happy and humbled to receive a visit from Deb’s horse.
“I can’t believe someone would do that for me – it made me feel very special and loved.”
His wife, Janet, said: “Terry was very overwhelmed by it all – we couldn’t believe how you went above and beyond to do all that for him, it was unbelievable.
“What a memory. The family were so grateful it was amazing!”
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