Miniature therapy horses are staying cool and keeping fit during triple-digit summer temperatures by going swimming.

Dolly and Maserati, from Tender Little Hearts Mini Tales and Equine Mini Therapy, recently enjoyed a morning dip in a nearby pool to swim and “keep their small bodies conditioned” for when safety restrictions are lifted, allowing therapy visits to resume.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, senior facilities and libraries have closed its doors to all reading sessions and assisted equine therapy visits, according to a press release.

The release detailed how the Mini Tales reading program  provides a virtual reading opportunity for young readers during the pandemic.

Their equine-assisted 501(c)(3) offers a youth literacy promotion program providing miniature horses and donkey brought to libraries and schools so children can read to them and build their confidence.

A diminutive equine does not “pass any judgement but will simply listen,” the release said.

However, during the COVID-19 pandemic,  the program has been paused, noted the release, describing how the founder, Terry Holmes-Stecyk, imagined creating a virtual experience through a video where youngsters read to her mini horses and donkey through the internet.

She has partnered with local libraries and encourages home-schooled children and all young readers home during this time to take advantage of the program on reading to the miniature horses and donkey: tenderlittlehearts.org/read-to-a-mini.html.

Mini Tales also offers Live Zoom reading and therapy sessions to anyone wishing to have a more personal experience, added the release.

Visit: tenderlittlehearts.org.