Lowrie Place Senior Living Community resident Edith Atkinson pets Gretchen; a horse from In Stable Hands equine therapy, with her husband Ray Atkinson. Residents of the Butler-area senior community had the chance to pet horses Wednesday as part of the community's effort to lift the spirits of its residents during COVID-19 lockdown. Residents came out one-at-a-time or with their significant other to interact with the animals Gretchen and a miniature pony named Stormy.

BUTLER TWP — A stout horse and a lithe, tanned horse clomped around a nursing home Thursday to lift the spirits of patients there under the coronavirus lockdown.

On Friday, Annie Gaggini will turn 97 years old but is unable to celebrate her birthday with family and friends because of the virus restrictions. Thursday’s visit from two therapy horses was as close as she would get to a celebration. And it didn’t disappoint.

Gaggini has been a resident of Lowrie Place, a senior living home on Stirling Village Drive, since last year. On Thursday, she had one of the highlights of her stay there when the nonprofit group In Stable Hands brought two of their horses for the day from Greensburg.

“It was nice to go out, especially when you like animals and they do a good job of bringing the animals and showing us around them,” Gaggini said. “At this time, we’re cooped in here due to what’s going on with this flu but I enjoy being here and they treat me nice. Everybody is so kind. They’re so helpful. It’s just a nice place to finish being 96.”

This is an excerpt from a larger article that will appear in Friday’s Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.