Mini Troopers Program

The Mini Troopers program utilizes a miniature horse and outreach team to facilitate the well-being of special needs populations who can benefit from the human-animal bond but who, for a variety of reasons, can to travel to CTRC to access services. The Mini Troopers program is designed to educate and provide human-animal contact for children and adults resulting in a multitude of documented benefits.

The Delta Society (2007) reports that AAA may provide the following benefits to adults and children: empathy building, outward focus, nurturing skills, rapport building, acceptance, entertainment, socialization, mental stimulation, physical contact and touch, physiological benefits, and feelings of meaning in connection to the physical world. AAA, such as bringing a trained miniature horse to meet with participants, is meant to facilitate growth in the aforementioned categories as a natural source of healing in our community.

CTRC’s miniature horse, Carmella, is a registered member of the Delta Society’s Pet Partners program, which upholds standards of professionalism in the field of animal-assisted activities (AAA). Carmella has also been specially trained in the Parelli Savvy System, a method which “allows horse lovers at all levels and disciplines to achieve: success without force, partnership without dominance, teamwork without fear, willingness without intimidation, and harmony without coercion” (Parelli Natural Horsemanship, 2007).

Carmella and her outreach team will be available in the Fall of 2008 for visits to community groups, schools, assisted care facilities, nursing homes, and other community partners. Educational programming on the human-animal bond is also available. Contact Erica Elvove, volunteer@ctrcinc.org, at CTRC for Fall 2008 available scheduling, fees, and more information.