A small horse with a big heart is gaining statewide attention for the comfort she brings to some of Alabama’s most vulnerable residents.
Winnie, recognized as Alabama’s first miniature therapy horse, has spent years visiting nursing homes, assisted living facilities, memory care centers and rehabilitation facilities, offering moments of calm and connection to individuals who often have limited interaction beyond their care teams.
Her work recently reached a broader audience through a televised appearance in Alabama. Winnie appeared on WBRC’s “Good Day Alabama” alongside her trainer and owner, Bianca Smith, and her son Cooper, introducing many viewers to her unique mission.
The segment highlighted how Winnie’s gentle temperament and small stature allow her to comfortably navigate indoor spaces and interact closely with people who may be bed-bound or using wheelchairs — an ability that sets her apart from many traditional therapy animals.
Smith has spent more than eight years raising and training Winnie, who completed specialized therapy training before beginning her visits across the state.
Since then, Winnie has already impacted hundreds of individuals, bringing moments of familiarity and emotional comfort to care settings where those experiences can be rare.
Part of Winnie’s story is also one of recovery. She was rescued in poor condition and rehabilitated before being trained for therapy work — a journey that now mirrors the encouragement and reassurance she brings to others facing their own challenges.
Winnie’s work is ongoing and intentional. Her visits are not one-time appearances; she regularly returns to facilities, building recognition and connection with the people she serves.
All visits are conducted through a nonprofit model, ensuring that patients and facilities are not charged for her time.
Looking ahead, Smith hopes to expand Winnie’s reach even further. Long-term goals include visiting hospitals, staff wellness programs, and additional care facilities throughout Alabama, with a desire to extend that same sense of comfort to pediatric patients, families and healthcare workers at Children’s of Alabama.
A GoFundMe account has been established to support the purchase of a decorative wrap for Winnie’s therapy van in a cheerful design that will help share Winnie’s mission everywhere she goes.
As her recent television appearance showed viewers across the state, Winnie’s impact goes far beyond novelty.
With each visit — whether in a care facility hallway or on a morning news set — she continues to demonstrate the powerful role therapy animals can play in healing, connection and everyday moments of comfort.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
