A Match ‘Mane in Heaven’: Therapy Horses Visit Mercy Home

July 9, 2025

Following the last day of classes for Chicago Public Schools, our young people were greeted by Hope and Poppy, two miniature horses brought to Mercy Home by Barrington, Ill. nonprofit Mane in Heaven. 

Founded in 2012, Mane in Heaven is a volunteer-based organization that connects people with miniature horses to nurture empathy, kindness, and overall wellbeing. Their programming provides an opportunity for participants to make memorable connections with their therapy horses.

Mercy Home’s young people and coworkers took turns petting, taking selfies, and walking the horses around our outdoor basketball court. These interactions were more than merely fun. They were therapeutic. 

“Just the presence of being with a horse is animal assisted therapy,” Dina Morgan, president of Mane in Heaven, said. “The horses can connect with the people that they visit. Even the act of petting or touching them, for seniors it can help evoke memories and for kids, it can help build confidence.”

Mane in Heaven has eight miniature horses and dozens of volunteers that travel to hospitals, retirement communities, skilled nursing care facilities, schools, libraries, veteran facilities, promotional events and others in need.

“I would say 70% of our volunteers have no horse experience at all,” Morgan said. …. “Most of our volunteers are people that want to help. I always tell our volunteers, as long as you’re caring, empathetic and want to build relationships, we’ll teach you the rest.”

The event was one example of the varied and innovative ways Mercy Home provides therapy for its young people. Family therapy, one-on-one sessions, and even combined group sessions for our residents are a regular part of the mix. And as our friendly equine visitors proved, animal-assisted therapy can promote healing as well.

Molly Riley, senior manager of advancement at Mercy Home, met Morgan through Maureen Power, a dear friend of Mercy Home and former member of the Home’s Leader Council who is also deeply involved with Mane in Heaven. 

“The hope is that this can be an ongoing thing,” Riley said. “I also know that [Morgan] would love for some of the youth to go out to the stables and groom the horses.”

Animal-assisted Interventions have been a widely accepted component in mental health and therapy, especially for individuals who have experienced trauma. In the past, Mercy Home employed a service dog, Pongo, who comforted, motivated, and inspired our young people by fostering an atmosphere of calm and acceptance. Pongo touched hundreds of lives across Mercy Home before his passing in 2024. 

Mane in Heaven provides similar services and allows young people to walk and hug Poppy and Hope, bringing smiles to their faces. 

“Poppy had a little heart on her side,” Riley said. “I thought that was telling because it was safe and it was safe to hug a horse. I felt like that was really coming through. It did make people break down their barriers. I think people felt safe and let their emotions come forward.”

Thank you so much to Mane in Heaven for sharing your hearts and horses with our young people. 

“I love Mercy Home,” Morgan said.  “We want to be there to help the kids. It’s such a great organization. Bringing the horses down here is such a treat so I’m glad we could help and support any way we can.”