10 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 9
Trainer Victoria Nodiff-Netanel’s nine mares visit hospitals across Southern California, performing on a 32-key keyboard for thousands of patients each year.
The housebroken therapy horses also do tricks and support people recovering from anesthesia, prosthetic fittings and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as children, first responders and grieving families.
Founded in 2008, the nonprofit gained wider attention after a July Instagram video from a Pasadena children’s hospital drew more than 43 million views.
How does a horse playing piano create 'magic' in hospitals, and what are the unseen risks of this therapy?
Are these famous therapy horses living a dream, or is there a hidden cost to their constant public service?
Why can these horses enter hospitals while most emotional support animals can't even board airplanes anymore?