Little ponies do big things at PetExpo 2026 trade fair: come and see

Ponies and horses can be both a dependable friend and a patient teacher. Just ask Anna who runs equestrian club JK Mežezeri, a public benefit organisation, and has worked with horses more than two decades. On 14-15 March, during the pet and animal industry trade fair PetExpo 2026, visitors of Ķīpsala Expo Centre will have an opportunity to meet Anna’s ponies – Margis, Lucky, Elsa and Neptune – as well as learning more about the character of these special animals and event taking a little ride. “Horses and ponies are really special, magnificent animals. They bring so much joy, piece and emotional support to the people.Mežezeri has horses and ponies that are not only used for equestrian training but also go out to care homes and support centres to soothe and give vital joy to children, seniors and people with special needs,” Anna points out.

Road towards horses that started in childhood
According to Anna, she got into horses at a very young age: “When I was about eight, mum took me to Baldone for a horse-riding practice. That’s where my riding began and I gradually learned more about horses.” However, it wasn’t all just “plain sailing”! At the age of nine, Anna suffered a horrific fall during a horse-riding session that resulted in back injury. For two years, Anna had to wear a corset. “But I was not giving up horses, not even after that. Just the contrary, that’s when I realised that I deeply admire these animals,” Anna says. Not long after, she convinced her dad to buy her first horse. Anna’s family had always known that horses are social animals, they cannot live alone, and soon other horses began to appear in the stables. When Anna was about 12, family had already built a small stable. It all started with some riding and taking care of horses, and then time came for Anna to start sharing her experience with others. Her passion did not become a business, instead Anna and her husband decided to create a non-profit that works for the benefit of the people.

Ponies – emotional support animals
Owner of Mežezeri mostly works with ponies now. She and her animals go out to care homes, orphanages and other institutions where clients would really benefit from the emotional charge that ponies can provide. “Animals can give so much positive energy, especially to children, seniors and people with physical or mental challenges, as well as people who live a lonely life,” Anna claims. She vividly remembers the first time they went out to a care home. “You meet somebody who barely speaks, bed-ridden and seemingly closed-off to the world. And then a miracle happens! Women who had just met a pony, all of a sudden began sharing her private life details. As it turns out, she had grown up with horses. She was stroking pony, talking about her past with the tears rolled up her eyes,” Anna recounts. Care home staff was shocked, they had hardly ever heard her speak before, but after that she started talking more to the others. Some other time, when pony went into a man’s room – this man almost didn’t talk to anybody – something really touching happened as he broke down in tears. After that, he was much more engaged in what was happening and more open to communicating with others.

Ponies – smart and strong
Many think that pony is just a tiny horse, whereas actually these animals are quite different, with their own distinct qualities. Ponies have denser bones, more luscious mane and bodies built differently than horses. They are smart, sometimes cunning and they are great at guessing people’s mood. “If you are afraid or insecure, ponies will pick it up immediately. They are also surprisingly strong and smart,” horse expert says. For example, Shetland pony that weighs at around 180 kilos can pull a weight that is twice as big as its own. Moreover, ponies are extremely quick learners and can also teach people patience, empathy, confidence, how to take care of animals, feel less anxious, coordinate one’s body and interact with animals the right way. That is also why ponies are often used for therapy involving children and adults, and people always respond the same way to their first ride – they always want more!

Second change for horses
Many animals that come to Anna’s stables have interesting, often tough, stories to tell. Horse named Prince is one of them. He turned 24 recently. He spent many years at the horse-riding school, in the stables, working hard every day during practice sessions. “When I saw him first, he was so frail – skin and bones. I was shocked. He was in no condition to be saddled,” Anna recaps. Now Prince mostly spends his days grazing outdoors and living a very balanced life. Pony Margis has a similar background story. He came from Lithuania. When box arrived and Anna saw him for the first time, Margis was very defensive towards people. He had his mouth wide open, kicked the door and even tried to lash out. At first it seemed he’ll never trust people. But going slow and making measured steps helped Mežezeri owner win Margis’ heart over with time. Now he’s become friendly, playful and much more open. He enjoys meeting children, seniors. Loves exhibitions. “Human and horse need a bond. It is all about support, trust and connection,” Anna underlines.

Come to Ķīpsala to meet the ponies
Visit Ķīpsala International Expo Centre on 14-15 March for PetExpo 2026 trade fair and meet, take a ride on four of Anna’s ponies: Margis, Lucky, Elsa and Neptune. Caress, feed a carrot and take a photo in the field studio. Maybe this will lead you into a new friendship based on a special human-pony bond. “To make ponies look clean, beautiful and fluffy, you need to start various treatments days ahead of the fair,” Anna says, inviting everyone to check out her ponies at the PetExpo.

PetExpo 2026 is organised by Canine Federation of Latvia (LCF) and Latvian Association of Felinology Felimurs, with technical support of BT 1 International Expo Company