A WOMAN who runs a pony therapy scheme has written a book about how the initiative began.

Susan Dunne started Pat A Pony, which takes miniature ponies into care centres, about three years ago.

Now she has documented the background to the project – based at St Ives, Harden – in A Pony in the Bedroom.

"The book is basically a memoir which charts my own journey of healing with horses and how I went on to set up the scheme," she said.

"I grew up with an undiagnosed autism spectrum condition and although I'm fairly high-functioning, it can still be very difficult on a day-to-day basis.

"I came to horses as an adult following a very serious assault, which left me with severe post-traumatic stress.

"The horses were a real healing force for me. But not only did they help me enormously to cope with the post-traumatic stress, they also made a huge difference in dealing with the autism."

Ms Dunne, of Keighley, went on to get four horses of her own, including miniature ponies Alfie and Spot, which provide the therapeutic visits to care homes and day centres.

She began working on the book about two years ago.

"When I was going into homes with the ponies people were regularly asking me how it all started so I thought it would be a good idea to write it down," she said.

"I've written travel books in the past but never anything like this.

"It's been a bit scary but also very exciting and I'm pleased with the finished book.

"It is really a tribute to how animals in general and horses in particular can reach out to us when we feel isolated, cut off or damaged.

"There have been extremely positive reviews, including praise from the famous American author Temple Grandin, who herself has autism and is an animal expert."

* A Pony in the Bedroom retails at £12.99 and is available from the publisher, Jessica Kingsley, or through Amazon.

E-mail dsusan2@aol.com for more details about the Pat A Pony scheme.