A special visitor named Pal made his way into the hearts of patients at the Foyer Lacombe St. Albert Hospice.
Guided by Deb Smith, the 25-year-old quarter horse brought more than curiosity; he brought comfort, memory, and a unique emotional connection to a place where every moment matters.
“There’s awe, tearfulness, sadness, joy, and storytelling,” Smith said of the July 8 event. “So many of the people here have had horses in the past; some rode them to school, some worked on them, and some just loved them. Pal brings those memories back to life.”
The visit, arranged by the St. Albert Hospice Association (SASHA), is part of an ongoing sponsorship with Full Circle Equine Assisted Support, a program developed by Marianne Disipio. Guided by trained professional Smith, the unique program introduces Equine-Assisted Support (EAS), assisted guidance that blends self-care practices, life coaching, and therapeutic learning into emotional-support sessions. It is not a mental health treatment, but rather a powerful complement to wellness and traditional care, especially in settings like hospice, a place where presence means more than time.
Smith knows something about life and death. A registered nurse for 36 years, she worked in the very hospice where Pal visits now. After retiring from nursing, she brought together her two most significant sources of wisdom — palliative care and horses.
“I’ve had horses for about 25 years of my life, and Pal and I have been together for 23 of those years. I’ve always known the healing capacity of a horse in the presence of a human, especially Pal. He’s incredibly tuned into people’s emotions.”
Pal’s visits are quiet, gentle, and deeply personal.
That emotional sensitivity makes all the difference in the silent halls of the hospice. Pal walks slowly and carefully, often right up to the bedside of bedridden patients. For many, it’s a deeply moving experience of peace, memory, and connection. Some recall riding horses as children. Others simply rest their hand against his soft coat, reminded that even in their final days, they are still seen, still touched, still part of the world.
Staff, patients, and families at the hospice have come to look forward to Pal’s visits. There’s a ripple of excitement when he arrives — he’s welcomed by name, even by those who only see him briefly.
“He's never had a negative interaction,” Smith said. “People are always moved. They light up when they see him.”
Pal wasn’t always named Pal. During his first visit to the hospice, he met a patient named Barb. The two shared an immediate connection, and through their time together, Barb reminisced about the times she spent riding in the mountains and the joy it brought her. Moved by the experience, she named the horse “Pal,” short for “palliative.” The name stayed, and so did the memory. Barb passed away not long after that visit, but her impact has remained. Her name is engraved on the back of a medallion that Pal wears on his halter, a quiet tribute to a bond that continues to inspire.
“Barb was the most profound experience I’ve had doing this work,” Smith said. “Pal helped her reconnect with her past and brought her joy during such a difficult time. It was beautiful.”
For now, Pal continues to do his work one visit at a time, offering quiet strength, companionship, and healing, in a place where those things matter more than ever. His presence is a reminder that even in the final days of life, there is still room for connection, still space for joy, and still time for love.
Smith speaks often about the trust she shares with Pal, and how that trust makes this work possible.
“He and I have been through a lot together," she said. "He knows when he’s needed. He knows how to respond to people in a way that is gentle and respectful. And he absolutely knows this is his purpose.”
