The Discovery Program enjoys a morning with the Minis with a Mission || Monica Sager Romeo the horse and Etta Emmerman check each other out || Monica Sager Fluffernutter (right) and Romeo (left) are hits with the crowd of Discovery Program students and Senior Center visitors || Monica Sager 
Penny Carnevale pets Fluffernutter the horse || Monica Sager 
Romeo the horse is brushed and groomed by visitors || Monica Sager 
Janis Vose pets Romeo the horse || Monica Sager The Discovery Program students interact with the horses || Monica Sager
Fluffanutter, Pixie, and Romeo might not be typical visitors at Swampscott Middle School, but on Tuesday, the mini horses were welcomed with open arms.
Marianne Hartman, a Swampscott resident, founded Minis with a Mission to promote physical, mental, and spiritual healing while connecting with the community. Tuesday’s event at Swampscott Middle School provided just that for students in the Discovery Point program and visitors at the Senior Center.
“They’re just wonderful empathetic animals,” Hartman said. “They bring joy to people and are a very calming presence.”
Romeo, who is about 12 years old; Pixie, who is 10; and Fluffanutter, who is about 31 and is the official “Pride Pony” of Swampscott, were all brushed, petted, and kissed by seniors and Discovery Point students.
“It’s beneficial for everybody,” said Emily Borden, who runs the Discovery Point program. “It just brings out the students’ abilities. Instead of looking through a disability lens, we’re looking through an ability lens.”
Discovery Point, which is based in the Swampscott High school, provides services and assistance to students aged 18 to 22 with intellectual disabilities. The program focuses on individual students gaining skills in academics, communication and social skills areas.
Borden described experiences like the Minis with a Mission visit as “another level of academics,” beyond the traditional classroom. The students, who Borden said request the mini horse visit each year, also recently visited the Seacoast Science Center for another hands-on animal experience with touch tanks.
“Throughout the summer we try to incorporate community-based learning experiences,” Borden said. “We see another side of them.”
