Haydays of Healing: Rewriting the Golden Years
Haydays of Healing: Rewriting the Golden Years
The rhythmic sound of hooves is not what one expects to hear coming out of an Active Ageing Centre. Yet, at centres across the island, it is set to become a regular – and transformative – presence.
At an NTUC Health centre in Jurong West, retired shopkeeper Mdm Loo Mei Lan leans in close to Ginger, a miniature therapy horse, and whispers, “Ginger, you bring luck into my life.” Ginger reciprocates with a gentle nuzzle, and the two walk forward together, in step.
The quiet interaction reflects a key part of Haydays with Horses, a pilot programme launched in February this year by Temasek Foundation and EQUAL, a charity that delivers experiential and educational animal-assisted programmes to vulnerable groups. The initiative brings miniature horses to senior activity centres and nursing homes, helping to improve the physical, emotional and cognitive well-being of seniors like Mdm Loo.
For Mdm Loo, the four-week programme included activities such as walking and grooming the horses, and interacting with other participants while creating equine-themed art, scrapbooking, and writing letters to her favourite horses.
The experience, she says, was invigorating. “At first I felt a bit nervous,” admits the 76-year old, who attended the sessions with her husband. “But once I touched the horse, I felt calm. The sessions uplifted my mood and I felt a connection.”
Two hearts, one breath: Mdm Loo and her equine companion share a moment after a mindful breathing session.
She now knows all the horses by name, but Ginger, a miniature horse with a painted coat and tousled mane, remains her favourite. She enjoys brushing her coat, gently massaging her mane, and walking alongside her.
In other centres, similar stories unfold. Retired police officer Harbans Singh, who participated in a 10-week run of the programme, finds comfort in his interactions with retired polo horse Chevala, better known as Chevy, the oldest in EQUAL’s stable. The experience brought back memories of his childhood in India, where his family’s horse not only provided transport but companionship. “They have their own personalities,” he shares. “Slowly, you get to know them, and they get to know you as well.”
Beyond nostalgia, the interactions have given both Mr Singh and Chevy renewed purpose. While Chevy offers steady comfort and companionship, Mr Singh’s familiarity with horses has allowed him to help other seniors connect with the animals, encouraging more to participate in the programme. “As you age, you need activities that keep your mind active,” he explains.
As you age, you need activities that keep your mind active. When you're with these animals, you can talk to them; they help you forget your troubles.
Mr Harbans Singh
Navigating the course: Mr Singh steadily completes an obstacle course with his equine companion.
Horses’ sensitivity to human emotions often allows them to mirror feelings of those around them, creating a safe space for seniors to process their own emotions, explains Ann Hui Peng, Head of Programmes and Services at EQUAL. Participants tend to open up while brushing their coats or leading them on walks – sometimes reminiscing about caring for their own children or expressing fears they have about clinic visits. For those who live alone, the horses often become confidants.
The impact, she says, is often profound. “When seniors realise they can still do certain tasks for or with a horse, they rediscover a sense of power and control over what they want to do in life.” Being part of a shared experience also encourages seniors to interact with one another, fostering a sense of community.
When seniors realise they can still do certain tasks for or with a horse, they rediscover a sense of power and control over what they want to do in life.
Ann Hui Peng
Head of Programmes and Services, EQUAL
The Haydays with Horses initiative reflects Temasek’s broader commitment to Connecting People and Uplifting Communities – principles that, alongside Protecting the Planet and Advancing Capabilities, guide both its community gifts and the philanthropic work of Temasek Foundation. By enhancing the well-being and social connectedness of seniors, we help foster a more inclusive and resilient society.
The immediate and longer-term impact of horses on the physical, cognitive, and psychological health of seniors participating in the 10-week run is being assessed and documented by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Saw Swe Hock School of Public Health and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). Their findings will inform plans to scale the programme – and potentially integrate equine-assisted therapy into eldercare systems.
While studies have shown that engaging with horses can reduce loneliness and be empowering for older adults, few studies have been done with Asian populations. The results of the pilot could be instructive, says Associate Professor Mythily Subramaniam from IMH, who is co-leading the research team. “Given Singapore’s urban population, the use of horses is novel and adds to the value of the study,” she says. “Anecdotally, we have seen a lot of interest and older adults are enthusiastic, from wanting to groom the horses to exercising them.”
For participants like Mdm Loo, Mr Singh and many others, the programme has also fostered meaningful connections, sparked new interests, and helped redefine what it means to grow older actively.
Step by step: As they journey through the programme, bonds of trust and care develop between the horses and participants, including Mr Lai, Mdm Loo’s husband.
Mr Singh even jokes with his grandchildren about getting a new pet. “I say: I'm going to buy a horse, you know. And they ask: Where are you going to keep it?” he laughs. “But it really makes me happy. You don’t need to speak the same language , when they look at you, horses know.”
Finding a New Stride
The Temasek Foundation–EQUAL Haydays with Horses programme offers a unique approach to helping Singapore’s seniors age actively. This pilot programme, Singapore’s first dedicated equine-assisted programme for older Singaporeans, connects participants with therapy horses – including miniature horses, retired polo and racehorses - to encourage physical movement while fostering psychological well-being, cognitive health, and social connections.
Officially launched in 2025, this collaboration between Temasek Foundation, EQUAL, NTUC Health, the National Healthcare Group’s Institute of Mental Health and the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, brings miniature horses directly to Active Ageing Centres and NTUC Health nursing homes. Seniors also visit EQUAL’s stables in Jalan Mashhor to interact with its nine full-sized horses. Through activities such as grooming, walking, and equine-themed art sessions, participants report feeling happier, less anxious, and more connected.
"Temasek Foundation is pleased to support Haydays with Horses. Equine therapy has the potential to help seniors age well and have a better quality of life -- through a way that is both fun and empowering. Even without riding, interacting with horses can unlock physical and mental health benefits.", says Mr Kee Kirk Chuen, Head, Health & Well-being at Temasek Founation.
The programme aims to reach 800 seniors across six nursing homes and 22 Active Ageing Centres by 2026. It is also being studied for its potential to make equine-assisted therapy an integral part of preventive eldercare. Besides seniors, EQUAL has also bough animal-assisted learning to other groups, including children, families in need, and people with disabilities since its 2015 lauch.
For both seniors and their equine companions, Haydays with Horses is a second chance – a way to rediscover purpose and joy in their golden years.
About Temasek’s Community Contributions
Temasek’s journey in building social capital started over 20 years ago, when it adopted a deliberate and structured approach, anchored on the twin pillars of governance and sustainability, to give back to communities.
Since 2003, Temasek has been setting aside a portion of its net positive returns above its risk-adjusted cost of capital for community gifts.
These are approved by the Temasek Board and then donated to partners to achieve Temasek’s community objectives of Connecting People, Uplifting Communities, Protecting the Planet, and Advancing Capabilities.
Temasek Trust (TT) has been the primary beneficiary of Temasek’s gifts. TT disburses grants for programmes to be developed and delivered by Temasek’s non-profit ecosystem, including Temasek Foundation, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Stewardship Asia Centre, and Mandai Nature. To date, Temasek’s gifts to TT have impacted about 3.7 million lives across Singapore and beyond.
In addition to Temasek Trust and our non-profit ecosystem, Temasek also works directly with partners from the Public, Private, and People sectors to advance our community objectives, where our philanthropic capital, network, and industry insights can make the most impact.
About Temasek Foundation
Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. Temasek Foundation programmes are made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, as well as gifts and other contributions from other donors. These programmes strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come. Collectively, Temasek Foundation’s programmes strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and regional capabilities, advance science, and protect the planet.
