As of: 08/19/2022 4:12 p.m
As a four-legged friend in higher honours: There were already such stories in ancient Rome. Pony Patrick has now been elected mayor in British Cockington – with a wink, but with tangible consequences.
You can see at first glance that a dignitary is coming. With his red blanket, white collar and gold horseshoe chain of office around his neck, mini Shetland Pony Patrick in Cockington, Devon, draws everyone’s attention: villagers flock to their unofficial mayor, wanting to take selfies or just cuddle with Patrick.
The pony carries the star hype with composure. Because Patrick knows people well. When he’s not on the road as Mayor of Cockington, Patrick works as a therapy pony, visiting hospitals and psychiatric clinics regularly with his owners Kirk and Hannah Petrakis. For many people there, contact with gentle animals like Patrick is very healing.
Kirk and Hannah Petrakis travel a lot with Patrick – with and without official robes.
Image: Erik Haasdonk
A photo alleviates fears
Nine-year-old Melissa’s eyes light up as Patrick slowly trudges out of his horse trailer. She’s been waiting for this encounter all week. The girl with autism suffers from anxiety and therefore regularly meets with the therapy pony.
For a long time, Melissa had trouble going to her classroom. Since she always has a photo of Patrick with her, she’s getting better and better at it. “She has a very special relationship with Patrick and that alone gives her enough confidence in difficult situations,” says her mother Stella Williams.
Patrick creates a good mood – and Kirk and Hannah Petrakis also wanted to spread it on the Internet. During the pandemic, Patrick became a minor social media celebrity with short videos on Facebook and YouTube.
For Melissa, contact with Patrick means more courage to approach people.
Image: Erik Haasdonk
A joke with consequences
This gave rise to the idea of making him mayor, says Kirk – at first it was a joke. But then the petition reached hundreds of people; quite remarkable for a small town like Cockington.
And so Patrick received his mayoral robes in his own ceremony – and Cockington received a lot of media inquiries from around the country. Even the Washington Post wrote an article about the pony mayor.
Known from social media: Of course, Patrick is also present here.
Image: Erik Haasdonk
The burdens of the office are limited
Of course, Patrick isn’t really a mayor – more of an honorary mayor who’s task is to boost tourism in idyllic Cocktington. One of his main tasks is to spread a good mood. He likes to do that by cutting the ribbon at the opening of schools or hospitals – or rather chewing through it.
Nevertheless, the pony mayor does not seem to please everyone. Someone from the village is said to have complained about Patrick. Since then he has been banned from his favorite place: the enclosure next to a pub where the pony liked to have a beer with the townsfolk after work.
Its owners used the pub to get the pony used to loud background noise for its therapy sessions. But there was no planning permission for the small outdoor area that was built especially for Patrick.
A tasty beer when the day is coming to an end: Patrick is not averse to this custom either. Gladly at the local bar, but also gladly outside of the house.
Image: Erik Haasdonk
No more beer in Cocktington
“Many regulars just come here to see Patrick,” says owner Kirk, “Patrick really misses that.”
But the search for a new hangout didn’t last long. A few miles further in Chudleigh Kneighton, Patrick is more than welcome – as the Mayor of Cockington, as a therapist or just as Patrick the pony.
A pony as mayor – bizarre things from the island
Imke Koehler, ARD London, August 19, 2022 8:47 a.m