MEDINA TWP. — Therapy dogs often visit residents at the Western Reserve Retirement Community, but Wednesday’s guest was a different breed — and not a dog.

The therapy visit was from Petie, an 18-year-old miniature horse/Shetland pony cross. He is owned by Victory Gallop of Bath, a nonprofit organization that uses horses as therapy for disabled or ill children.

He has been with Victory Gallop for 12 years and also tours hospitals and retirement homes, co-director Kim Gustely said.

Paula Bogre, recreation director at the Western Reserve, said while the retirement community receives therapy dog visits, she had been waiting for a special occasion to invite Petie the Pony. Because May is Country-Western Theme Month at the retirement community, Bogre said Petie fit right in with the program.

Gustely, along with Victory Gallop employee Kaylynn Ruf, led Petie around the room so each resident could pet his muzzle and ask questions about him and ponies in general.

“He’s cute,” resident Ed Ferguson said.

“I love you, Petie. I wish you were mine,” Ilamae Zimmerman, another resident, said as she petted him.

As they petted Petie, several residents, many of whom were dressed in cowboy hats and bandanas, recounted how they rode or worked with horses when they were young.

In order to bring Petie up to the sanitary standards of retirement communities and hospitals, Gustely said she keeps his coat trimmed short, bathes him prior to his appointments and wraps his hooves and tail in plastic wrap to prevent manure from spreading on him during transit. She also sprays him with Listerine mouthwash to get rid of that “horsey smell.”

He also is housetrained, Gustely said, although she brings a bucket along “just in case.”

Contact Kaitlin Bushinski at (330) 721-4050 or kbushinski@medina-gazette.com.

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