Funny you should ask right now.... We always wondered the same things and then started a 4-H Club this year with our minis, which has been a fabulous experience. As a Community service project, we just took 2 of our minis to a local nursing home that one of the members relatives used to work for. Called them up to schedule a visit in their fenced outdoor courtyard, as we thought that would be a good place to start. The only requirements they had were a Rabies certificate. We opted to take our "been-there/done-that" show mare Princess and our 2 year old gelding Rusty who had only been off the farm once. Rusty had also led us to believe that he would be PERFECT for this role, however, so we had faith in him.
Photos can be seen at:
https://www.facebook...=1&l=74fc076638
Yes, it is Facebook, but you don't have to be a member to see them.
As you can see from the photos, we ended up taking them indoors, sticking to carpeted floors because they slipped on the tile. (Next time we would bring vet wrap or shoes). What you can't see - but we heard - was the train that went by just across the road. Princess was a tiny bit concerned but Rusty never moved a muscle. They were also great when someone backed her wheelchair into a huge umbrella, knocking down a glass bird feeder that shattered right next to the minis. Neither mini moved. And, yes, Rusty was PERFECT for this role.
I am not sure who enjoyed the experience the most - the residents, staff, minis, 4-H memebrs or us leaders! There was some concern about "accidents" when we were indoors, but Princess let us know when she needed to go (subtle but clear message) and she went as soon as she got back on the trailer.
For our other 4-H work, we do have a range of abilities among members, and we are all "learning by doing" (4-H motto). I read somewhere that in therapeutic driving they use a second set of reins attached to the HALTER to teach driving, and we are using that technique with the young 4-H members too. So I control the mini (Princess again) with a set of reins on the bridle, and the 4-Her sitting to my left has another set of lines attached to the halter. This way they can learn how to hold the reins, how to steer, and what contact feels like. I know there are other ways, but this seems to show promise. See photo below.