Watch therapy ponies bring farm magic to seniors in Manhattan thumb 2

Only in New York, as they say. And for one group of Manhattan seniors, that old adage rang true.

On a crisp October morning, residents at the retirement community Sunrise at East 56th were treated to a few unexpected visitors when two miniature therapy horses, Pearl and Aidan from HorseAbility, arrived to meet them.

“A lot of our residents actually had some early childhood stories that they were sharing about growing up on a farm or riding horses,” said Alyssa Friedman, program director at Sunrise at East 56th. “I’ve never seen a horse in a high-rise building, so I thought this was a good opportunity to bring something different.”

And different is exactly what they got. As the horses made their way to each excited resident, people shared childhood memories, stroked their new four-legged friends and laughed together. For many in memory care, even the scent of the horses and hay invoked powerful memories.

“I think animals really have a universal healing…for anyone of any age, but especially with our senior population, getting the chance to work with these animals, I think is very therapeutic,” Friedman said.

Friedman is already planning to bring the ponies back again soon, knowing how much joy a simple visit can bring to her community. She’s also exploring other experiences that might spark delight — perhaps tropical birds next.

No matter what animal she shows up with, the goal remains the same: to brighten the lives of the residents of Sunrise at East 56th with some memorable moments.

In a concrete jungle like New York City, a little wonder goes a long way.

Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter, bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Therapy ponies visit seniors in NYC high-rise for a day of joy and nostalgia

Reporting by Kendall Malinchock, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect