By
Ayse Guner
Arizona Daily Wildcat
"Pet therapy" supports hospital patients of all ages, horse owner says
Two-thousand-pound Lenny the horse ambled about UMC's north plaza yesterday, leaving children with smiles on their faces and a story to tell their friends when they return home.
"Cooool," said Miesha Lawson, a 12-year-old patient, when she saw the "huge" brown creature standing in front of the University Medical Center's gate.
As a part of "pet therapy" sessions, Lenny - a 9-year-old Clydesdale - and his owner, Nancie Roahrig, visited about 10 children staying at the hospital. At least 40 children are currently staying in the pediatric ward.
"Do the horsie love, pet the horsie," said Miesha's mother Evea Holmes, as she held her 2-year-old grandson Daquavin in her arms, pointing her hand toward Lenny.
Although a little intimidated and surprised first, the children got used to Lenny. They petted his nose, played with the white feathery fur on his legs and stroked his shiny hair.
Roahrig, who owns Clydesdale Carriage and Wagon Company in Vale, visits UMC every other week, but always with a different kind of horse, she said.
She also owns a Shetland pony and a black Arabian, but most of the attention goes to Lenny because of his size and his gentle mood, she said.
"They are considered very people-oriented, and are known as 'The Gentle Giant'," Roahrig said.
These visits bring patients out of their rooms, especially children, who sometimes stay inside for a long period of time without being able to go under the sun, Roahrig said.
Roahrig came up with the idea three years ago, after a close friend's daughter died of leukemia.
"She stayed many, many hours in (the) hospital," she recalled. "(So) we are trying to bring patients out of the hospital. And if they are too ill to come down, they usually wave behind the window."
Pet therapies are common at the UMC, where parents or visitors bring different types of animals into patients' rooms to provide emotional support, said Tim Downes, UMC child life specialist.
He has seen many dogs at the hospital, including an Irish wolfhound, a waterhound, Shih Tzus, Saint Bernards and others.
"But no one expects to have a big horse in," he said.
When children hear that a horse is coming by for a visit, Downes said they often ask, "Is he going to come up the elevator?"
Miesha said she thinks some animals, like hamsters, should always be allowed in hospitals.
"I had a little guinea pig in my class and we can have mice or something here too," she said as she petted the twice-her-height Lenny.
Not everyone agreed with Miesha, though.
Six-year-old Dominique Maciulla said animals should not be allowed in hospitals, especially horses.
"Because he is huge," she said. "They might get crazy and jump on people."
But Roahrig teaches children how to respect her horses.
"Don't go to the back side of a horse," she said. "Lenny would never kick, but you should respect a horse."
Aside from volunteering at hospitals, children's centers and nursing homes, Lenny pulls carriages and wagons for hire. He also attends church events, weddings and Tucson's annual Fiesta de Los Vaqueros rodeo parade.
"He works for his food too," said Roahrig.
The Clydesdale breed was developed in Scotland, where it was used as a plow horse, and they range from 16 to 18 hands - close to six feet - high at the shoulder. They can drink up to 30 gallons of water a day and eat three bales of Bermuda grass a week.
Lenny's next UMC visit will be on Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day - but Roahrig said his frequent appearances will always entertain a new audience.
"Because we think there is going to be a new child every day, visits in every other week is nothing," she said.
