This week, Meadowbrook care home in Bishop’s Stortford welcomed a very special guest as part of its Chinese New Year celebrations. Pebbles, a much-loved therapy pony from Royston in Hertfordshire, visited the home to help residents mark 2026 as ‘Year of the Fire Horse’ under the Chinese Lunar calendar. Many were delighted with the opportunity to spend the evening interacting with such a wonderful pony.
The evening also included a live magician, Chinese tapas, and a selection of Chinese teas, cocktails and mocktails to help residents gallop into the new year. To mark the occasion in creative style, Pebbles’ owner, Lauren, also brought along hair chalks so residents could paint elaborate flame designs onto Pebbles’ coat – a symbolic and joyful tribute to the year ahead.
Commenting on the celebrations, Meadowbrook’s General Manager Michelle Humphreys said:
“The Lunar New Year is always such an exciting moment for Meadowbrook, even for those of us who have never been to China! Something about the day always captures the imagination of our residents and staff, so this year we decided to do something special. Huge thanks to Lauren for agreeing to take part in the fun, and to Pebbles for being such a relaxed and obliging guest”.
Pebbles is well-known across Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and is fast becoming a regular fixture at schools, children’s birthday parties, and care homes. A naturally relaxed and sociable pony, her owner quickly realised that Pebbles is perfectly suited to therapy work and community visits. During her time at Meadowbrook, Pebbles went from room to room to ensure that no resident missed out, happily accepting fuss and attention wherever she went.
Lauren’s love of horses began at just four years old. At ten, she shared a pony called Chic whilst riding and caring for larger horses at her local yard, often spending entire days there learning what was involved in looking after them. Years later, her passion was reignited when she returned to work at a yard, loaning a pony called Scarlett before buying her own horse, Stampy.
Owned for four years, Pebbles was originally broken to drive carts in Chelmsford before being retrained as a riding pony. Today, she brings joy to children as a “real-life unicorn” at parties and offers comfort and companionship to care home residents across the region.
Speaking about Pebbles’ role as a therapy pony, Lauren said:
“When we first got Pebbles, we realised quickly how calm and unflappable she was. Pebbles knows her job and loves bringing joy to others; nothing phases her and she is a pleasure to own. I can’t imagine ever selling her – she will stay with us for the rest of her life and will continue to make new friends up and down the country; in-between being spoiled rotten, of course!”
The purpose of the event was to celebrate cultural traditions in an engaging and inclusive way, whilst creating meaningful experiences for residents. By combining entertainment, food, and a memorable animal visit, Meadowbrook ensured that residents were able to welcome the Lunar New Year with laughter, creativity, and a true sense of community.
Meadowbrook is part of the Connaught Care Collection; a new luxury care provider which has six operational homes across the country.
