Hooves and Healing: Why Peile House is Embracing Pony Power 

In the north of Sheffield, an unusual therapeutic partnership has formed to deliver respite and recovery for homeless young women supported by YWCA Yorkshire. 

Peile House provides accommodation and bespoke wrap-around support for young homeless women in ten bedsits and four self-contained flats in Sheffield. 

Commissioned by Sheffield City Council, the service helps women make the transition from homelessness to independence. On-site, the charity team support residents to build confidence and skills, access training and education, to re-establish relationships with family, and to return home or build new homes and better futures.  

Once a month, the 14 young women living at Peile House, are joined by the miniature residents of Smile Pony Therapies, thanks to Your4Good funding secured by YWCA Yorkshire last year. 

For young women recovering from the trauma of homelessness, traditional therapeutic environments can sometimes feel overwhelming. Animal-assisted therapy however, offers a route through to emotional regulation and an opportunity to connect with others in a safe space.  

Women gather in communal spaces in Peile House to pet, groom, and even style the ponies’ manes. This physical connection helps lower cortisol levels and promotes emotional regulation. 

Therapy ponies are gentle, intuitive, and love to be cared for. Whilst the pony enjoys being groomed, the young women attending the sessions benefit from the rhythmic act of grooming, which has been found to lower anxiety levels and build confidence. These sessions are a huge hit for both the people who live at Peile House and the staff that work there. As a shared activity, it has also helped to build those trusted relationships between participants.  

These vital moments of respite and joy are made possible thanks to Your4Good funding. Grants and donations of this kind, ensure that YWCA Yorkshire can provide specialist services, like the Pony therapy, which are designed to help women to recover and reconnect; so that they can go on to create a better future right here in South Yorkshire. 

If you would like to support homeless young women in Sheffield to access therapeutic activities, you can donate to YWCA Yorkshire today: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/ywca-yorkshire