Mini horses aren’t just cute—they’re changing lives.

At hospitals across California, a 17-year-old mini horse named Black Pearl is lifting the spirits of children in recovery, veterans with PTSD, and first responders facing burnout.

She’s part of a volunteer team called Mini Therapy Horses that brings joy, calm, and emotional healing to people during some of their hardest moments.

But despite their incredible impact, animal-assisted therapy programs like this are rarely recognized—or reimbursed—by Medicare or Medicaid. That needs to change.

We’re calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to formally recognize animal-assisted therapy as a legitimate, evidence-informed support tool in healthcare settings.

Programs like Mini Therapy Horses deserve support—not just applause.

Studies have shown that therapy animals can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and even help with pain management in hospital patients. In Black Pearl’s case, she’s not only helping children feel more confident after surgery—she’s actively participating in physical therapy sessions. Kids who use prosthetics or are relearning to walk are motivated to play games with her, move with her, and smile again.

But programs like this rely on grants and private donations to keep going. Without systemic support, most hospitals can’t afford to bring in therapy animals regularly, especially in low-income or rural communities.

This isn’t about replacing doctors or therapists—it’s about expanding access to healing tools that work. It’s about recognizing that emotional health is part of medical care. And it’s about making sure the kids and veterans who benefit most from animal-assisted therapy aren’t denied it just because of where they live or what kind of insurance they have.

Let’s bring animal-assisted therapy out of the margins and into the mainstream. Let’s make sure Medicare and Medicaid support—not sideline—programs that are already doing life-changing work.

Sign now to tell CMS: It’s time to recognize and support animal-assisted therapy as part of comprehensive, compassionate healthcare.