Mini horses make stop at Lakeview Care Center

It was a perfect summer afternoon when Lake View Care Center residents gathered on the facility’s patio to meet a trio of hoofed visitors.

MeJo, Domino and Sammy — miniature horses raised by Cassandra and Todd Wilson — slowly made the rounds Thursday afternoon, reveling in the attention of so many admirers.

The Wilsons, who raise the horses on their property northwest of Kalispell, decided to visit the care center after meeting activities director Karyn Jones and several LVCC residents at this year’s Fourth of July parade.

“I brought some residents out to our grassy knoll to watch the parade, and they (the Wilsons) brought the horses right up to see them,” Jones said. “They just loved it.”

After the parade, Cassandra contacted Jones and asked about bringing the horses to the facility. Jones did not hesitate to accept the offer.

“They have naturally soft demeanors, and they are not threatening at all,” Cassandra said.

The Wilsons have raised full-size horses for many years, but they didn’t get their first miniature horse until about four years ago.

They now own six “minis,” which they train to pull carts — a practice known as “driving.”

“I always thought they were really cute, but I didn’t know what we’d do with them,” Cassandra said. “I never thought I’d like anything as much as riding, but driving is just addicting.”

The couple also make regular appearances in area parades with their miniature brood. They only recently began exploring the possibility of using the horses for animal therapy.

“I want to get more into the animal therapy stuff because I know that if I were ever in a situation where I didn’t have my critters, I’d just go crazy,” Cassandra said.

She and Todd hope to eventually train one or more of the horses to make bedside visits. Thursday served as a test run to determine which horse would be the best indoor candidate.

“We’re working on stairs for indoors,” Cassandra said. “It’s just a matter of getting them used to the different floor types. It may be next spring before they’re ready.”

In the meantime, the Wilsons hope to make events like Thursday’s patio visit a regular thing, which Jones is excited about.

“It’s good for the residents, good for the horses — it’s just an awesome deal,” Jones said.