The horse’s mouth blog: ‘I’m officially on trial, but I love my new life!’
By Olaf
We haven’t met yet, but I’m Olaf, and although I’m on trial as a therapy pony everyone agrees that I pass the cute test with flying colours! And I’m honoured to be asked to write this month’s Horse’s mouth blog. That must be a good sign, right?
My name means ‘descended from ancestors’ in old Norse, and was also the name of several Norwegian kings, which is pretty cool. Perhaps cooler still, Olaf was also the snowman in the Disney film Frozen. I like to think I live up to such a grand name, in personality if not in stature. I heard myself described as ‘pint-sized’ recently and am not sure what to make of that.
I came from a family in Kent who were worried that they couldn’t give me enough time, and it’s true, I was mostly kicking my heels in a field. But after that quiet rural life Park Lane Stables is very different! Luckily I LOVE people, especially little ones, and there are lots of those. In fact I may be getting a reputation as a cuddle-bug. I figure there are worse things.
So now I’m in training, and there’s so much to learn! No day is ever the same, one day I’m introduced to wheelchairs, another day Natalie appears dragging a noisy box called a ‘suitcase’ in front of me. She wasn’t even going anywhere, isn’t that very odd behaviour? And that’s before I even leave the Stables and get to see planes, trains, buses and cars.
They’re telling me I’m doing well, though, and I’ve recently visited a care home and a school. I felt 16 hands tall being trusted to represent Park Lane, and it was fun too. I felt like a film star! And so many cuddles!
I also have a new, special human friend in Noah, one of the volunteers. He’s light enough to be my test pilot to take me riding in Bushy Park. That place is huge! Now I’m eyeing up all the smaller humans who visit the Stables as I’d love to be chosen to go out with a rider more often.
My size is a definite advantage for the littlest humans, and visitors who use wheelchairs. We’re at eye level, which is a novelty for them and for me!
Wish me luck in my training!