Meet Ali the accidental therapy dog

Pay us a visit and you’ll be welcomed not only by the ponies and people of Park Lane Stables, but also by Ali the red fox Labrador. She’s a huge part of the team and we all adore her, but it wasn’t planned. It’s time we introduced her to you.

Ali with Lexy (right) in Bushy Park. And yes that is Mo Farah

Ali belongs to our coach Lexy but we all love her equally. In the beginning, she just used to come along with Lexy, but she quickly became a team player. It was a natural progression for her to become a support dog for our participants. 

Ali is a listener and so intuitive she even once identified someone about to have a seizure and alerted us.

When people come along for the first time or even the second or third time and are feeling apprehensive, Ali is there to help them deal with their worries. She’ll accompany people to the mounting block and wait with them while they regulate their breathing, stroking her before mounting. She’s also been known to accompany people on the carriage to ease their anxiety.  

As her instinctive skills have blossomed, Ali now visits residents of care homes and snuggles up on beds or laps giving the best cuddles. She takes part in therapy sessions with our on-site therapist too, and takes everything in her stride. Ali loves to accompany rides in Bushy Park, where she gets to do her absolute favourite thing – swimming and splashing in the pond.

And as a true Labrador, she will also smile on command and is affectionate to everyone she meets. How could that not improve anyone’s day?

We adore Ali’s story! If it’s brightened your day too, why not thank Ali for her awesomeness by giving a small donation?