JMU students will have an opportunity to interact with—and get information about—miniature therapy horses from noon-3 p.m.Wednesday, Oct. 28 at Hillside Fields on campus.
Three volunteers from “A Little Magic” of Culpeper will accompany three miniature horses to the event. Animal assisted activities have been found to provide benefits such as reduced blood pressure; decreased anxiety and stress; improved moods; and more.
Several staff members from the JMU Counseling Center will also be at the event to provide information about animal assisted activities, other ways to reduce stress and self-care.
Rebecca Jones, a senior psychology student working as an independent study student at the counseling center under the supervision of Magali Laitem, staff psychologist-resident and outreach coordinator, organized the event.
“A Little Magic” is part of a larger non-profit group, “Love of Little Horses.” They are registered with Pet Partners, an organization that screens, tests and registers handlers and their animals for animal assisted therapy activities and visits.
The event is open to all JMU students. Students wanting to interact with the horses will be asked to sign a waiver.