Victoria Nodiff-netanel ((install)) Jun 2026

: The team provides support to first responders and victims during major crises, including the California wildfires and visits to the LA City Fire Department .

: The organization visits schools and agencies to help individuals dealing with bereavement, stress, and trauma. Victoria Nodiff-Netanel - Mini Therapy Horses 501(c)(3)

Victoria Nodiff-Netanel is the founder and president of Mini Therapy Horses , a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2008. A former dressage competitor, she transitioned from high-level equestrian sports to equine-assisted therapy after purchasing her first miniature horse, . Key Contributions and Activities victoria nodiff-netanel

"It's pretty hard not to have a smile and feel joy when you see a little tiny horse... playing a keyboard," Nodiff-Netanel noted in a recent interview. These horses, which include Pearl , Blue Moon , and others, also perform tricks like standing on their hind legs and navigating around hospital equipment. Expert Training and Care for the Miniature Team

Victoria Nodiff-Netanel: The Heart Behind California's Magical Mini Therapy Horses : The team provides support to first responders

: She leads a team of nine specially trained, "potty-trained" miniature horses that visit children’s hospitals, trauma centers, and veterans' facilities to provide emotional support.

: Nodiff-Netanel and her horses are regular participants in high-profile events, including multiple appearances in the Rose Parade . These horses, which include Pearl , Blue Moon

Nodiff-Netanel keeps her horses in ideal body condition through proper nutrition, including Platinum Performance formulas , recognizing that "if they're not healthy and fulfilled, they can't do their job". A Lasting Impact

: Her horse, Black Pearl, became a viral sensation for her ability to "play" a toy keyboard, a trick used to comfort and distract young patients waking up from anesthesia or undergoing medical procedures.

A viral video, seen over 2 million times, shows one of her horses, , interacting with a young patient at a hospital, bringing smiles to children who are often in pain or waking up from surgery.

The horses in Nodiff-Netanel’s care—often mares chosen for their sociable nature—undergo rigorous training that can last up to two years. They are desensitized to loud noises (jackhammers, ambulances) and are trained to walk on various surfaces, use elevators, and follow hand signals.