Miniature Therapy Horses Visit Kendal on Hudson Residents

Resident Margaret Ann Roth with two HorseAbility mini-therapy horses.
Margaret Ann Roth, Resident Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee, planned the event.

April 28, 2021 (Sleepy Hollow, New York) — Wednesday morning Kendal on Hudson residents received a visit from two mini-therapy horses from HorseAbility. The mini-horses — both trained as companion therapy animals — spent the morning with memory care and skilled nursing care residents in Kendal on Hudson’s Sunnyside Garden and with independent and assisted living residents on a terrace overlooking the Hudson River.

“As a resident at Kendal on Hudson, activities that bring our neighbors together are important to our sense of community, especially during this pandemic,” said Margaret Ann Roth, Resident Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee, who planned the event. “And as a horse-lover, I was excited to bring these mini-horses to our campus for both the joy and well-being benefits that they bring.”

Kendal on Hudson’s residents socialized with their neighbors while having enjoyable and therapeutic interactions with the miniature therapy horses. Time spent with therapy animals can help support the physical, emotional and social well-being of older adults.

“We encourage our residents to lead purposeful and engaged lives both within our community and beyond,” said Pamela Klapproth, CEO of Kendal on Hudson. “Within and outside our community, our residents find rewarding and fulfilling experiences. We care deeply for our residents – from their health and well-being to their social and emotional wellness.”

News12 in Westchester, New York, broadcast coverage of the event during the noon hour. Video and a news story are posted online, titled “Mini horses bring big smiles to residents at Sleepy Hollow older adult community.

To learn more about Kendal on Hudson, visit kohud.kendal.org or call 914-922-1000.

Resident Jane Kratovil pets one of the mini-therapy horses.
Resident Jane Kratovil pets one of the mini-therapy horses.

About Kendal on Hudson

Located in the historic lower Hudson Valley town of Sleepy Hollow just 35 miles from New York City, Kendal on Hudson is adjacent to Rockwood Hall State Park. The Life Plan Community offers a vibrant lifestyle with resident-engaged cultural programs and continuing learning, while also providing comprehensive on-site health care. It supports a culture of diversity, inclusiveness and independence.

About Kendal

Founded on Quaker principles and guided by its Values and Practices, Kendal provides independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing and rehabilitation care in eight states. Kendal-affiliated retirement communities are located in Hanover, New Hampshire; Ithaca and Sleepy Hollow, New York; Northampton and Easthampton, Massachusetts; Lexington, Virginia; metro Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Kennett Square, West Chester and Newtown, Pennsylvania; and Oberlin and Granville, Ohio. Enso Village, a Zen-inspired Life Plan Community, currently is under development in Healdsburg, California. Kendal at Home, based in suburban Cleveland, combines the security of a continuing care retirement community with the freedom and independence of living at home.