Mini Hooves of Love

Magical things can happen when mini hooves step onto the campus of Children’s Health℠.  

Once a month, patients, families and team members at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, get the chance to visit and pet a live, miniature horse. While waiting in line, little faces light up as they watch those ahead experience the rare opportunity.  

Linda Woods and her husband, James, are co-owners and registered handlers, of Mini Hooves of Love, a nonprofit organization that brings registered therapy animal teams to nursing homes, schools and more. Linda, along with fellow volunteer and registered handler, Teresa, recently brought the organization’s youngest horse, Levi, to the hospital. One at a time, patients got to meet Levi. Some stroked his nose. Others petted his head. And all the while, there was a sense of peace as the children made connections with the horse.  

Smiles and laughter were the culmination of the moment.  

After patients said goodbye, they were gifted with one of Levi’s trading cards featuring a distinguished photo of the horse, his bio information and a list of things he loves to do.  

“It helps the kids to have something to hold onto and remember that visit,” Linda said.  

Aside from putting smiles on children’s faces, Linda works as an office manager and medical assistant for a neurologist in the Dallas area. Her workplace lets her off every Wednesday to do what she loves most – volunteer to improve the lives of people with her “minis.”  

Mini Hooves of Love has been setting hooves on the Dallas campus for the past year and at each visit, they bring a different horse so patients and team members get to meet them all. And although the mini horses come to provide a fun distraction, they also come as a form of therapy. Horses can reduce stress levels and can have a calming effect on patients. They can monitor a patient’s heartbeat, and in turn, the horse’s heartbeat will match.  

Mini Hooves of Love was formed unexpectedly in 2011 when Linda and James were showing their miniature horses at a show. A staff member of a nursing home across the road, asked if anyone would bring a horse over to let the residents see it. The Woods’ volunteered one of their horses “that was perfect for it.” The residents loved it so much that it even brought some to tears. That trip gave Linda and her husband so much joy and was the inspiration for Mini Hooves of Love.  

Linda said her most memorable experiences at Children’s Health have been with the patients that didn’t know what to expect, and once the horse nuzzled into them, she could see the connection between the horse and child.  

When volunteering her time, Linda said she also receives something in return. 
 
“This was my therapy today as well. It does me good to see people smiling and feeling better,” she said. “I volunteer to give the kids something uplifting and a break from all the things that they’re going through.”  

Join Linda and Mini Hooves of Love in choosing Children’s Health by donating, advocating or volunteering: https://give.childrens.com/ways-to-give