The team from a funeral home in Torquay are helping the local community by supporting a charitable organisation that provides pony therapy.

Torbay and District Funeral Service, part of the Funeral Partners network, has a long-standing relationship with the organisation Community Pony which supports local people through Patrick, their four-year-old Miniature Shetland therapy pony.

They have donated more than £1,000 towards Patrick’s training to become a therapy pony and sponsor the van which transports him around to enable him to visit people.

Sandra Murphy, Area Development Manager for Funeral Partners, said: “Pony therapy can be so beneficial to many people and Patrick has an invaluable role in supporting bereaved families. We also helped to make Patrick a mascot for the Purple Poppy Appeal, which remembers animals that fall victim to war. We even bought him a smart new coat to wear on his mascot duties.”

Pony therapy has been known to reduce blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health. It can help release endorphins that provide calming effects, this can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, anxiety and improve overall psychological state.

Kirk Petrakis, Director of Community Pony, said:” We originally bought Patrick with the intention of using him to pull a small carriage for our three children but soon realised that he was better suited to interacting with people and he is now fully insured as a therapy pony.

“He has visited hospitals, schools and recovery groups, we have taken people on walks with him, which has helped many with anxiety and stress, and attended wakes, where Patrick has brought real comfort to those grieving. The money Sandra and the staff donated has helped with Patrick’s training and gone towards the cost of equipment.”

PHOTO

Sandra Murphy, Area Development Manager for Funeral Partners (blond hair) and Jade Cross (Funeral arranger)