Finni’s Ark

A new double act that is small in stature but big in feel-good factor is sweeping through Jersey, providing welcome relief from the constraints of the Covid pandemic. By Ruth Le Cocq

Two of the smallest horses you can imagine - Jethro and Sweep - have been visiting the Island’s care homes and delighting both residents and staff with their antics.

Lara Manning runs a self-funded animal sanctuary in St Ouen called Finni’s Ark.

Finni is the name of Lara’s mother’s horse. Lara said he had a very caring personality, he is now retired and living at the sanctuary. She said: ‘The horses enjoy human company and their laid-back attitude means they are not fazed about going into an assortment of buildings. They are really amenable and they’ll go in the lift and in the bedrooms and they like people. Some of the residents are very excited and really love them.’

The visits started after a care worker, who owned a large horse, explained to Lara how one of the residents, who was unwell, wanted to meet a horse.

‘Her horse was too big so we took Jethro and Sweep because they are so tiny. We started out in the garden and, as we got more and more involved, we started going into the communal lounge areas and now, in some homes, we do door-to-door visits!’

Jethro and Sweep’s first ‘gig’ was at Maison St Brelade but now the duo have visited Ronceray in St Martin, St Ewold’s in St Helier, Jersey Hospice and a number of the LV Care homes.

‘It’s really nice to hear how the horses are helping people,’ said Lara. ‘Some of the residents are non-verbal and you don’t really know how much they are taking in or whether they like the horses but then the carers will say to you that it’s the first time that person has smiled in a very long time.’

With over 100 animals at Finni’s Ark Lara has become an expert in paying attention to the demeanour of animals to ensure they are in good health. Finni’s Ark is run by Lara assisted by her parents, Richard and Sioban, and some of her friends and volunteers. It rescues horses, ponies, poultry, goats, pigs, sheep and cows. Lara emphasised that it is not a petting zoo; visitors are by appointment only.

‘First and foremost we are an animal sanctuary so the animals come first,’ she continued. ‘The animals are not in a pen for you to touch, they are free range so they will come up to you whether you like it or not and if they don’t want to come up to you they won’t – there’s no real boundary between you.’

Lara is focusing on educating people to better understand the responsibilities of not only buying animals but keeping them too.

Finni’s Ark has a Facebook page with regular updates about the animals and details about how to support the organisation.

‘I’d like to improve the facilities here in the future,’ said Lara. ‘I run a livery stables elsewhere in the Island to pay for the animals at the sanctuary but donations really help and they don’t have to be in the form of money - seed or vegetables are very welcome.’

“First and

foremost we are an animal sanctuary so the animals come first