Pony visits patients at Akron Children's Hospital

AKRON, Ohio - It's not every day that you hear clip-clopping in the halls of a hospital. But on Thursday, kids at Akron Children's Hospital got an unexpected, unusual visitor.

Petie the Pony stopped by to see dozens of young patients. For many of them and their parents, it's likely to be the highlight of their hospital visit.

"He's the only pony in the country that is certified to go directly into hospitals. He rides the elevator and does room to room visits, just to add a little cheer to the children who are patients in the hospital," said Sue Miller of Victory Gallop, a therapeutic riding facility for kids with emotional and physical handicaps.

Petie just turned 20-years-old and has been warming the hearts of patients for over a decade. He's the only horse in the country to be certified to go inside a hospital. 

The children Petie meets are patients whose days are usually filled with tests, doctors and hospital routine. But on Thursday, as the kids sat in their rooms, a horse walked in and suddenly their day became a little brighter.

Petie belongs to Victory Gallop, a therepeutic riding facility for kids with emotional and physicial handicaps. Sue Miller, with Victory Gallop, believes in the power of animals.

"Petie comes in and adds a little joy to their day. He takes a moment of their time and lets them forget about being in the hospital," she said.

He goes through an extensive preparation process to ensure he's squeaky clean for the kids. Prior to his visits, he gets bathed three times and wears hospital booties for his walks from room to room.