When she was young, Suzie Henderson lost her grandfather, a horse lover, to cancer.
That encouraged the rural Mapleton, N.D., resident to launch a North Dakota chapter of Hearts and Hooves.
The nonprofit organization brings miniature horses into hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, special-needs classrooms, Alzheimer's units and other places with ill, elderly or disabled people.
"I always thought how much he would have enjoyed seeing a horse again (in his last days). I'm so glad I learned about Hearts and Hooves," Henderson said.
Hearts and Hooves began in Texas six years ago. There are about 10 chapters today.
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Henderson, who operates a boarding kennel near Mapleton, went to Texas to train with the organization this spring.
She returned with Austin (named after the Texas city), a 4-year-old miniature horse.
Austin is one of eight miniature horses she has now.
Miniature horses are bred for their small size. Typically they weigh about one-fifth to one-tenth of a full-sized horse.
Small children are able to sit on the backs of miniature horses. The size of the child depends on the size of the horse.
Hearts and Hooves doesn't charge for its services, but asks for donations to cover travel expenses.
Henderson said she's "in desperate need" of more volunteers; she has three now.
Jackie Eldredge, who will be a senior at Central Cass High School in Casselton, is one of the volunteers.
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"I love horses. This gives me something to do that I really enjoy," she said.
Henderson hopes to expand across the state. For now, she's concentrating on nursing homes in Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding communities.
The miniature horses, accompanied by Henderson and other volunteers, are small and docile enough to walk through hallways and into the rooms of patients or residents.
The horses are housebroken, though Henderson doesn't guarantee there won't be any accidents.
Hearts and Hooves has visited the Rosewood on Broadway long-term care facility in Fargo several times.
"It means so much to our residents," said Myrna Harris, resident programming manager.
"So many of our residents were around horses when they were young, and seeing horses again allows them to reminisce," she said.
Rosewood residents repeatedly smiled and petted the horses on a recent Hearts and Hooves visit.
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"We dearly love when the horses come," said Rosewood resident Jean Schulte.
Henderson beamed as Schulte and other residents interacted with the horses.
"That's why we're doing it. We just want to brighten people's lives," she said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jonathan Knutson at (701) 241-5530
