A MINIATURE horse who provides comfort to older people suffering from dementia has been nominated for a national award.

Standing at just 29 inches tall, Mr P has become a well-known figure in care homes and schools around the region as his small stature and calm temperament makes him the perfect for his role as a therapy horse.

Now Mr P, who is owned by Katie Smith, from Middleton St George, near Darlington, has been nominated for a Daily Mirror Animal Hero Award, in the care award category.

A public vote will determine which three animals in each category go forward to a star-studded ceremony on November 28.

As well as his role as a therapy horse, Mr P also competes in the show ring and will appear at the Horse of the Year Show, in Birmingham, this week in the miniature horse category.

Mr P has already had a taste of the limelight, appearing on the Alan Titchmarsh Show last week, where he made the most of his time in front of the cameras.

Owner Ms Smith said: “He was posing while people took pictures the whole time, he seems to know where the camera is. “When he’s in the show ring he gets an air about him, like he knows he’s important. But when he’s in his role as a therapy horse he is completely different, he’s very calm and has a very good effect on people with dementia and other challenging behaviours.

“I’m so proud of him and I’m proud of the work that he and my other two miniature horses do. They enjoy it and the response that I get from all the care homes and the people that we go and see is amazing.”

To vote for Mr P visit dailymirroranimalheroawards.co.uk