Have you ever met a horse who goes on adventures all by himself to see his favorite people? Let me introduce you to Panda, a horse with a big love for excitement and an even bigger love for carrots.
This isn’t the first time Panda has wandered off, but this time he had a special reason for doing so.
One day, his owner Maija took him to visit a nearby dementia care center. The residents there were thrilled to meet him, giving him lots of attention and plenty of carrots. That day was so special to Panda that he just couldn’t forget it.
But since that visit, Maija hadn’t taken him back, and Panda really missed his new friends. So, he decided to take matters into his own hooves.
He came up with a plan to escape and make his way back to the dementia unit all by himself.
You see, horses have amazing memories, especially when something makes them feel happy. For Panda, visiting the dementia unit was one of those unforgettable moments.
“Horses learn through a system of repetition, reward, and correction. They tend to repeat behavior that brings a favorable response and avoid behavior that evokes a response from the rider or handler,” The Vet Expert reported.
Panda’s wish to return to the dementia unit shows exactly how this works. In fact, this wasn’t the first time he’d tried to go back there. Maija mentioned that Panda had escaped before to see his “friends” at the unit and enjoy more carrots.
They joked that even if Panda forgot some of his training, he certainly didn’t forget the carrots. One time, Maija found Panda in a parking lot near a building. She wasn’t sure if it was the dementia unit or just a random place where she caught up with him.
Panda seemed to hesitate between continuing his journey or going back home with Maija. In the end, his training won out, and he decided to return with her.
A video of Panda’s adventure got a lot of attention, and people found the story hard to believe.
Some wondered if Panda wanted to visit because the dementia patients might have forgotten him.
Others thought maybe Panda was aiming to become a therapy horse, starting with the dementia unit. Just think about how happy the elderly patients would be if they could spend time with Panda!
In a wonderful turn of events, Panda and Maija were featured on New Zealand’s Prime News.
The news team decided to film them at the dementia unit, giving Panda the chance to relive his happy memories. And guess what? He got more carrots, which made him very happy!
Panda’s little adventure certainly made his day.
The man responsible is facing felony charges but must never be allowed to own or care for animals again.
When asked if Panda had jumped over something to visit his friends, Maija explained that he had cleverly slipped out through the gate.
This smart horse knew exactly what he was doing. Maybe if Panda had all the carrots he wanted at home, he wouldn’t feel the need to wander off.
Or perhaps he really cherishes the friendship of the people at the dementia unit.
Only time will tell what Panda decides to do next!
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@maija.vance Replying to @mercury.n.the.snail #therapyhorse #horses #palominopaint ♬ original sound – MAIJA
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via Whisker Therapy