Monty rises to the occasion

Monty the Horse. Photo: Newshub.

Monty’s handler Raewyn Risi leads him through Waikato Hospital’s Waikids ward earlier today. Photo: Newshub.

He’s done it again.

In rising effortlessly to the occasion of his latest challenge this morning – this time all seven floors of it – Monty, Cambridge Riding for the Disabled’s (RDA) therapy pony, completed what’s thought to be a New Zealand first.

It almost certainly was a first for Waikato Hospital when the 19-year-old Shetland pony, with handler Raewyn Risi and Cambridge RDA coach Sam Ogden in tow, took the service elevator to pay children in Waikato Hospital’s Waikids ward a visit.

As a therapy horse, Monty is increasingly undertaking community visits to places like rest homes as part of what’s been coined his outreach programme.

This visit though was a little further afield, and the seven-floor trip slightly higher than the one floors worth of practice The News reported on Monty getting in the lift at St Andrew’s Retirement Village’s Moxon Centre earlier this month.

That had been his very first trip in an elevator, with the potential for today in mind.

And, Sam said, “as he always does”, Monty adjusted well – after washing his feet with an anti-bacterial solution, and Sam and Raewyn donning masks, the trio said hello to about 20 patients across three floors in the roughly 90 minutes they were in the ward.

Because he gave up so much of his time, there were a few occasions throughout the visit when Monty took a few moments to answer the call of nature, including in the elevator itself.

See: Monty features on Newshub.

Sam called the visit a great success.

“Monty certainly made lots of friends. The children absolutely loved him, and it was exciting for parents too. The staff got such a buzz.”

A game of pool is one of Monty’s favourite pastimes. Photo: Supplied.

With a lot to coordinate before the visit, Sam thanked Waikato Hospital staff for working together to help make Monty’s visit a reality.

“It was nice we could jointly facilitate something so different which was really special to be a part of.

“There are, obviously, a lot of things which have to be considered when bringing Monty into an unknown environment like that. But he’s such a good little boy anyway, and really did carry himself well today.”

Looking ahead, Sam said, Cambridge RDA will ultimately investigate finding sponsorship for Monty’s future visits.

Staff currently facilitate them in their own time, and with their own resources, she said.

Today’s visit had shown though that with Monty fast developing a profile in the Cambridge community – and now the wider Waikato – the sky is the limit.

Importantly too, though Monty’s diary is filling fast with more requests for other visits, he still finds time for some rest and relaxation.

A game of pool, Sam said, is one of his favourites.

And on returning home to Cambridge RDA today – where Monty’s lived since 2016 and is becoming a popular face – staff made sure he was greeted with a “good feed, some pampering and a lot of attention”.

Meanwhile, there’s “no rest for the wicked” just yet, Sam smiled.

Monty’s latest visit to Resthaven is scheduled for tomorrow.

See: Waikids to get the full Monty