Aged care magic: When Thelma McInnes met clerk of the course horse Chopper

After two long - often lonely - years of lockdowns and COVID caution, resident Thelma McInnes had a surprise equine visitor.

"It was magic. The best medicine," Ms McInnes told the Newcastle Herald.

A few weeks ago, as Ms McInnes was watching the races one afternoon, the 92-year-old resident mentioned to a staff member she would like to one day pat a horse again.

While Ms McInnes didn't have any particular equine connection in her youth, she developed a love of horses through her daughters and their children.

"My sister got her first horse when she was 16 or 17 which got me interested in horses," Ms McInnes' daughter Kathy Challen said.

"Both my nieces work at studs up in the Hunter Valley and mum used to love going up there to pat the foals."

So when Wayde - a staff member at St Josephs - reached out to Ms Challen, the dedicated daughter made some calls.

"My husband used to be a jockey. So through him I got a job doing race finish photography and that's where I know the clerk of the course Luke Moy from," Ms Challen said.

"I reached out to him and his partner Bec Dunn with mum's request and couldn't tell you how grateful I am that they had no hesitation whatsoever to bring Chopper for a visit."

In the racing world, clerks of the course are responsible for course management and preparation on race day. Their mounts, in Ms Challen's words, are "the grey horses that assist with wayward race horses or any that need company".

Eight-year-old Chopper, who stands at over 15 hands, has been a clerk horse across the Hunter and Mid North Coast for 18 months.

Bec Dunn said they picked chopper to visit the nursing home partly because of his temperament but also because of a family connection.

"Luke's grandfather Eddie French was a clerk of the course as well and he knew Thelma," Ms Dunn said.

"It was amazing to see Thelma become so much more vibrant. It was our first time doing something like that but we would certainly do it again."

Ms Challen said Chopper "played the part beautifully".

"He was gentle and basically just laid his head in mum's lap," Ms Challen said.

"It was a surprise for mum. So when she saw Chopper coming her face lit up like I haven't seen it for some time.

"Since the visit she has been eating more than she did before and has been really chatty. It's great to see that spark back in her again after a pretty tough period."

"It was something that she wished for but obviously didn't think it would ever take place."

Staff at the nursing home also noted a change in Ms McInnes, saying the colour had returned to her cheeks and she had a "smile from ear to ear".

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