By Bob Groeneveld/Langley Advance Times

Nobody expected to see a horse at Langley Lodge.

But Gunner was exactly the right size to bring back memories.

Alex Peters wanted to bring her miniature horse to the Langley intermediate care home where her grandpa lives.

She hoped it would jog his memory, or at least bring him back to happy times.

sa国际传媒淗e is one of my top male figures in my life,sa国际传媒� said Peters of her grandpa. sa国际传媒淗e has meant all the world to me.sa国际传媒�

But Walter Willoughby has changed since he lived in Brookswood with his wife Mae.

sa国际传媒淓very day is a different day for him,sa国际传媒� Peters said. sa国际传媒淗e still calls me by name, but I cansa国际传媒檛 call him on the phone or he doesnsa国际传媒檛 know who I am. He knows me when I show up in person.sa国际传媒�

The dementia that has slowed him down has changed him in other ways: sa国际传媒淗e was always Mr. Serious, now hesa国际传媒檚 the jokester, always saying the funny thing.sa国际传媒�

Even his appetite has changed. sa国际传媒淗e used to be the skinniest man in the world. He was picky,sa国际传媒� Peters said. sa国际传媒淣ow he eats anything.sa国际传媒�

But Peters was hoping one thing hasnsa国际传媒檛 changed.

Horses have always been a big part of Walter Willoughbysa国际传媒檚 life, Peters explained.

sa国际传媒淪ometimes people with dementia can communicate better with animals,sa国际传媒� she said, as she prepared her surprise visit with Gunner. sa国际传媒淗e might not understand why the horse is there, but maybe it will connect him to when he was in the barns and with the animals.sa国际传媒�

On Monday afternoon, not only was her grandpa enthralled, the Langley Lodge garden was veritably crowded with delighted residents who all had to say hello to Gunner.

Kyle Sanker, who works at Langley Lodge, said that Gunner was the first horse to visit the home, but was welcomed as part of a culture that offers a variety of experiences for residents.

Music, horticulture, and other programs try to involve residents with dementia in a way that help them to connect with something that they loved to do.

sa国际传媒淪ometimes,sa国际传媒� said Sanker, sa国际传媒渢hey get a nostalgic feeling of being taken back to a point in their life sa国际传媒� it comes back in a lucid moment.sa国际传媒�

Peters, who is planning to be a healthcare worker, was clearly pleased at the effect that tiny Gunner sa国际传媒� he stands only nine hands, sa国际传媒減robably the size of a great Danesa国际传媒� sa国际传媒� had on many of the Lodge residents.

She got the 12-year-old miniature horse as a resuce from Nanaimo, knowing little about him, except that his feet have been sa国际传媒渕oderately deformed sa国际传媒� not enough to stop him from doing what horses do, but theysa国际传媒檙e not right.sa国际传媒�

His feet certainly didnsa国际传媒檛 stop Gunner from delighting a 100-year-old Langley Lodge resident into expostulating, sa国际传媒淚 never thought Isa国际传媒檇 see a horse again, not in my home!sa国际传媒�

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