Rusty, a three-year-old Falabella, is a miniature therapy horse who travels around London in a private taxi to help people with mental health issues. His owner, Maria Johal, says he has given her a life after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for many years.
Maria, 50, from south-west London, has been debilitated by panic attacks since developing PTSD from childhood neglect. However, after researching equine therapy, she discovered that a horse's heartbeat can sync with a human's, which helps regulate breathing and calm anxiety. Rusty has been a registered therapy animal for some time, but he has been too nervous to travel on public transport, so Maria has given him a private taxi service.
With Rusty, Maria hopes to visit a special needs centre and a hospice, and even has plans to take him to the dentist for a check-up. As a therapy horse, Rusty has brought many people together, and Maria hopes that his presence will start conversations about mental health. 'I think there are so many people struggling and not enough resources,' she says. 'Anyone can become unwell, and you don't always need to have trauma to develop disorders.'
Rusty's impact goes beyond human therapy, as he is also a therapist for other horses. Maria has adopted a rescue horse, Tayto, who has had a difficult start in life, and Rusty has taken on a mentorship role, grooming and protecting his new companion.