Published on: Friday 06 Mar 2026 at 09:49
A miniature pony standing at a patient’s bedside isn’t something most people would expect to see in a clinical setting – but at St Clare Hospice, making meaningful moments possible is part of everyday care.
Mum-of-two Donna was overjoyed when her niece Chloe and partner Jenny brought their miniature pony, Tiny Ted, to visit her at the Hospice. The visit was made possible thanks to the compassionate, person-centred approach that defines hospice care.
Donna’s lifelong love of horses began in childhood when she had her own horse, Arthur, and she competed in showjumping before becoming a mum.
The 52-year-old was admitted to St Clare’s Inpatient Unit following a sudden and devastating stage 4 terminal diagnosis after suffering from unexplained headaches. Her husband, Denis, said from the moment she arrived at the Hospice, the difference in environment and care was immediate.
“We thought we were bringing Donna here to die,” he said. “But actually, it’s given us some more time to be a family. All we want to focus on is doing the things that make Donna happy. There’s nothing more important than that.”
When Donna’s family suggested bringing the pony to visit her, the St Clare Hospice team didn’t hesitate, working with them to arrange the visit and ensure Donna could enjoy the experience in comfort.
Denis said: “It broke up the week in the best possible way. Being at the Hospice has been the most amazing experience, everyone here is so kind and caring. All of the staff do such a wonderful job and the level of care has been superb.”
As Donna prepared to return home with support from St Clare’s Clinical Nurse Specialists, her family said the Hospice has given them a memory they will always treasure.
“We know we’ve still got difficult days ahead of us,” Denis said. “We just want to squeeze in as many happy moments as we can. Right now, every moment with Donna is precious and we want to make sure every moment counts. Being able to create these memories with her means everything.”
St Clare Hospice inpatient unit manager Rosie Hewer said: “Hospice care is about so much more than managing symptoms – it’s about understanding who someone is beyond their diagnosis.
“When we learned how important horses have been throughout Donna’s life, we knew this visit would bring comfort and joy at a time when everything else feels uncertain.
“Being able to say ‘yes’ to moments like this is what makes hospice care so special. It’s a privilege to help families create memories together that will stay with them forever.”