Sarah Woodland brings miniature ponies to older people. Courtesy of Sarah Woodland

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Woodland , founder of Dinky Ponies . It has been edited for length and clarity.

Just after the pandemic, I started seeing two Miniature Shetland Ponies every single day in a field on my drive to work.

I'd worked taking care of other people's horses as a groom — someone responsible for the daily care , health, management, and preparation of horses — for years, but I hadn't worked extensively with Miniature Shetland Ponies before.…