A horse in the parking lot of the Maison d'accueil et de résidence pour l'autonomie (Marpa) in Ornans, south of Besançon: the scene intrigues a group of residents who, with a cautious distance, observe Emmanuelle Pfrimmer busy around the animal.

Brushing the elegant brown bai dress, cleaning the clogs on which she puts on non-slip slippers... "We give the final touches," explains Emmanuelle, who began animal mediation in 2009 and is now familiar with interventions, especially in retirement homes or institutions for people with disabilities.

She frequently brings dogs, cats, ferrets and pigeons. And, sometimes Dounka, his 9-year-old mare, "pure Spanish breed".

"Good waves"

A little impressed, Annie Dubois-Carpentier, 82, still dares the contact: "I trust (...) Seeing her gives me good vibes inside me, which pacify me," she says with a big smile.

Docile, Dounka lets herself be caressed. "She's always been calm," said Pfrimmer, 45.

The mare Dounka visits the residents of the Maison d'accueil et de résidence pour l'autonomie (Marpa) in Ornans, on March 25, 2023 south of Besançon © SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

For animal mediation, "you need a nice mare, who is not +on the eye + (on the alert, editor's note) or emotional," explains this educator holding a certificate of zootherapy obtained in Quebec.

A few pieces of carrots nibbled in the palm of Annie's hand as a reward and Dounka takes the direction of the rooms.

Access is via a sloping plot at the back of the building, with a few steps that the mare easily crosses.

In the hallway and even more in the bedrooms, his presence impresses.

No less than 1.57 meters at the withers for 475 kilos: Dounka may be soft, she imposes.

The mare Dounka visits a resident of the Maison d'accueil et de résidence pour l'autonomie (Marpa) in Ornans, on March 25, 2023 south of Besançon © SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

Facing the equine, Rose Gresset, 88, sees the memories of her childhood on the farm pouring in.

Even if, at the time, animals "did not enter the rooms (...) They were at the stable!", laughs this elegant octogenarian, quickly overwhelmed by emotion: "it makes me happy, all these animals (...) It's a lot of memories," she said, tears in her eyes.

"They radiate"

"We loved these animals (...) We lived on the farm with (them). It was great for us (...) It really touches me, thank you for making me relive my life a little, "she slips to Emmanuelle Pfrimmer.

"Emotional memory is one that stays the longest," she explains. "For older people who have had young animals, it speaks to them, it makes them feel good."

The mare Dounka visits the residents of the Maison d'accueil et de résidence pour l'autonomie (Marpa) in Ornans, on March 25, 2023 south of Besançon © SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

After the bedrooms, the living room: a dozen residents took their seats, sitting in a semicircle for a small quiz -- naturally on the theme of the horse. Dounka quietly plants herself in front of them while Mrs. Pfrimmer invites everyone to participate, who by asking the questions, who by giving the answers.

Dounka "brings them well-being, it stimulates them a lot at the cognitive level," says Michel Prati, master of the house of this residence nestled in a green setting in the middle of the Jura mountains.

Different from an Ehpad, where residents are more dependent, this Marpa accommodates 24 people, 20 women and four men with an average age of 88, to whom it brings relative autonomy.

They participate in this type of activity "with a lot of enthusiasm, it's very positive," says Prati. For people who rarely go out, "it is the outside world that comes to them. It makes them feel good (...) They radiate."

The mare Dounka visits a resident of the Maison d'accueil et de résidence pour l'autonomie (Marpa) in Ornans, on March 25, 2023 south of Besançon © SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

The effects of these sessions "last over time, over several days", abounds Ms. Pfrimmer: "caregivers see the benefit on sleep, medication intake that decreases, cheerfulness, joy, well-being, socialization ..."

The quiz is coming to an end. Dunka shows signs of fatigue: she raises one hoof, then the other. One more turn in a room and it will be time for the mare and her mistress to take leave.

Gathered for a snack, residents say goodbye through the bay window, already waiting for a future visit.

© 2023 AFP