Emily Aho has seen the residents of Summerhill Assisted Living light up when she brings her endangered Newfoundland ponies to their residence. She’d like to return the favor, by having the residents visit her farm and see the ponies in their normal habitat. With some help from the residents, that hope may soon be a reality.
During a recent visit to the farm on Oct. 7, Summerhill residents gifted the Newfoundland Pony Conservancy with a $1,000 check, to put towards their campaign to purchase a golf cart to allow guests with mobility limitations to explore the entire farm.
The gift has put the sanctuary about $500 short of their $2,500 goal, which Aho said she hopes will be completed by mid-November. Summerhill residents will be honored with a sticker on the cart for their contribution.
“The residents love it,” Summerhill Director of Community Relations Jean Kundert, of Aho’s monthly visits. “For a lot of residents, it brings back memories of when they had horses or ponies themselves.”
Aho said she’s seen residents of the memory care unit at RiverMead in Peterborough, and residents at Summerhill “go back in time” when they lay hands on a pony.
“Even the people who don’t communicate, they’ll smile. Horses hear your heartbeat, and they know your anxiety level. It’s pretty neat when they pick out a person to go over and comfort,” Aho said.
Aho runs a sanctuary for the endangered pony breed, and has a lot of visitors – particularly since the birth of a new colt earlier this year. Not all visitors are equipped to travel across the grassy areas to meet the ponies, or access the birthing pen. A golf cart will be able to take visitors from the parking lot to essentially all the areas of the farm, Aho said.
Summerhill residents, who followed the progress of the colt’s mother during her pregnancy, were among those who traveled to Jaffrey to see the colt in person, but some weren’t able to walk to the pen. And a Make-A-Wish Foundation recipient who wanted to see the ponies had to be carried to the paddock, Aho said.
“It just gives us options,” Aho said.
Aho said she hopes a dunk tank dedicated to fundraising for the conservancy at the Shattuck Golf Club’s Shattuckfest Tournament this Sunday will put the campaign over its goal. To donate to the Newfoundland Pony Conservancy Center, visit www.newfoundlandponies.org/wish-list.html.