Kelsey Muller loves her horses, so when she saw a human interest story about miniature horses visiting an aged care facility she was inspired.
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The tv news feature showed how much joy the equine visitors brought to the residents, and Kelsey immediately sought to find out if she could do the same for locals in Jemalong Residential Village.
The Red Bend Catholic College student had two miniature horses, and her parents agreed that if she got them quiet enough, she could approach local aged care.
So began a year-long project of preparation.
Every weekend and holiday, Kelsey’s horses were taken into every situation she could think of – on the streets, up and down steps, through buildings – to make them safe to take into the nursing home.
Finally they were ready: Kelsey and her horses made their first visit about 18 months ago.
They quickly became regulars at JRV, once a month even through her HSC year Kelsey has washed and prepared the miniature horses for their visit and taken them up to the Village.
On Friday, Kelsey’s generosity and determination was recognised when she was named Forbes’ 2018 Young Citizen of the Year.
Surprised, she responded that taking Jazzie and Blondy – who each stand just taller than an average adult’s knee – to JRV was “so rewarding”.
It’s everything she dreamed of through the long preparation period after that initial tv inspiration.
The horses are taken right through the facility, if a resident is bed-bound then the horses go right up to them for a visit.
“They are fine with the residents,” Kelsey said.
Some of the residents lead the horses around for a bit, some like to pat and cuddle and there are others who just like to look.
“The interaction really brightens up their day,” Kelsey said.
“A lot of them are from rural backgrounds so they tell me stories.”
Kelsey is now finished her studies at Red Bend and is heading for Armidale to study International Studies majoring in Language and Human Societies.
