Miniature therapy horse Rusty travels London by black cab

A miniature therapy horse named Rusty has become an unlikely sight on London’s streets, travelling between care homes and hospitals in the back of a traditional black cab to bring comfort to those who need it most.

The three-year-old chestnut gelding stands just 76 centimetres tall – small enough to fit comfortably in a taxi. But his impact on patients and residents across the capital has been anything but small. Since January, Rusty has visited 14 different facilities, bringing joy to over 200 people struggling with dementia, depression, and terminal illness.

From Stable to Taxi

Rusty’s owner and handler, Sarah Mitchell, came up with the black cab solution after struggling to find reliable transport for her four-legged companion. Traditional horse boxes proved too expensive and impractical for short city journeys. So she approached a local taxi firm with an unusual request.

“I thought they’d laugh me out of the office,” Mitchell admits. “But the manager said his mum had dementia, and he’d do anything to help people like her.”

Now, Rusty travels in style three times a week, his hooves protected by custom-made rubber shoes that won’t damage the taxi’s floor. The cab company even installed a non-slip mat and keeps a supply of carrots in the boot.

Small Horse, Big Impact

At Riverside Care Home in Hammersmith, staff say Rusty’s visits have transformed residents who haven’t spoken in months. Margaret Thompson, 84, didn’t recognise her own daughter last year. Yet when Rusty nuzzled her hand during his first visit in March, she smiled and whispered the name of a horse she’d ridden as a child.

“He’s a life saver,” says care home manager David Walsh. “We’ve tried everything – music therapy, art classes, garden walks. Nothing comes close to what this little horse achieves in 30 minutes.”

Growing Demand

The waiting list for Rusty’s visits now stretches to eight weeks. Mitchell has received enquiries from facilities as far as Brighton and Birmingham, though she’s determined to keep Rusty’s work focused on London for now.

She’s also training a second miniature horse, a two-year-old named Pippin, to help meet demand.

“People ask if it’s weird, putting a horse in a taxi,” Mitchell says. “But when you see someone with Alzheimer’s light up because they remember something from 60 years ago, nothing feels weird anymore.”

As London’s population ages and dementia cases rise, Rusty represents a creative approach to care that costs almost nothing but delivers something priceless: connection, memory, and hope.