This Therapy Horse Went Viral For An Adorable Talent That Helps Kids In Hospitals
Who wouldn't want to be serenaded awake after a stressful experience at the hospital? A girl at Shriners Children's in Pasadena, California, experienced this firsthand, but to her surprise — and delight — the musician was a miniature horse. Yes, pets that aren't cats or dogs can become therapy animals. The Instagram account Mini Therapy Horses shared the moment in a July 2025 post, and the video went viral shortly after. The 17-year-old horse, named Black Pearl, energetically rubbed her muzzle across a mini keyboard near a girl's bedside to help her wake up from anesthesia and lift her spirits.
Black Pearl is one of several horses used as therapy animals in hospitals, schools, and other facilities through the nonprofit organization Mini Therapy Horses. Victoria Nodiff Netanel, an experienced equestrian, founded the organization in 2008. She initially adopted Black Pearl as a companion with no plans to train her, but things changed when she realized how much the horse seemed to enjoy learning. "At some point, I got the light bulb moment when you think, 'Wow, maybe I could combine my love of horses to helping other people,'" she told USA Today after the children's hospital video exploded online.
Today, the organization includes nine mini horses, all of whom have been trained by Netanel, but playing an instrument isn't the only skill these horses have. Valentina Blue, the newest addition to the herd, is also learning how to use a large skateboard.
The science behind using mini horses as a form of therapy
Even without diving into scientific research, it's easy to understand the likability of miniature horses, similar to that of dogs with dwarfism. While full-sized horses are undeniably majestic, mini horses add even more charm with their short snouts, big eyes, and small bodies. It would be hard for any animal lover to look at a 3-foot-tall horse with a gentle face and not want to pet or hug it.
In the 2010s, a team of researchers set out to prove the benefits of these animals, with the goal of expanding the field of animal-assisted therapy. For their study, published in January 2020 in the Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, they invited 50 college students and 17 airport travelers to interact with the horses for as long as they wanted. The participants filled out a survey about their emotions before and after interacting with the horses. Responses revealed a decrease in negative moods and stress and an increase in positive moods, similar to the emotional benefits of owning a pet.
Honey's Mini Therapy Adventures, another organization like Mini Therapy Horses, serves as additional proof of equine therapy benefits. According to the University of Florida Health, which has collaborated with the organization, mini therapy horses are keenly aware of people's behaviors and have strong nonverbal communication skills. This allows them to be tuned into humans' needs. Both patients and hospital staff have expressed positive feedback about the minis. Whether it's by playing a keyboard, strolling in on a skateboard, or just standing silently, mini horses continue to help adults and children alike.