Mt. Horeb Preschoolers Receive Visit From Special (Fuzzy) Guest

From Warren Township Schools:

WARREN, NJ - He’s been known to wear pink pig slippers, a cowboy hat, or even an elf costume during the
holidays. But for his recent visit with preschoolers at Mt. Horeb School, therapy horse Michelangelo
sported four spiffy black and white sneakers.

“This is Michelangelo,” said Maureen Coultas, as she introduced the miniature horse to the students on Nov. 29. “A lot of people think he’s a pony but he’s smaller than a pony. He’s too little for people to ride so he’s a therapy horse.”

Coultas - whose visit was arranged by Mt. Horeb nurse Doris Zanchelli -- is executive director of
Hope’s Promise, a therapeutic riding center in Chester, New Jersey. Michelangelo is one of several
miniature horses at the center. His bio on the center’s website (hopespromisefarm.com) says that
“he started visiting facilities at the age of 5 months and behaved as if he had been doing so since he
was born. He has a very gentle way and nothing seems to bother him. He goes up and down stairs,
in elevators, in people’s bedrooms and doesn’t mind getting dressed up for special occasions.”

The gleeful youngsters were invited to pet and kiss the miniature horse who calmly welcomed the attention, one sneakered hoof placed on Coultas’s knee.

“Imagine if you were in a doctor’s office and feeling a little bit scared and in comes Michelangelo,” Coultas said. “Would you be feeling scared anymore? You’d be wondering why a little horse is in the doctor’s office. Michelangelo helps people to feel better.”

Image via Warren Township Schools