I was suprised when visiting someone in our local hospital a few months ago to see that relatives around the next bed had brought along the family dog.
I would, however, have been even more surprised if they had brought a horse!
But the BBC reports that is what DID happen at a hospital in Hawaii.
A Hawaiian hospital has restated its rules on pets after a man took a horse up in a lift in a bid to cheer up a sick relative with his favourite steed.
Man and beast were stopped only after reaching the third floor, after apparently passing through the lobby unchallenged.
A hospital spokeswoman said there was a visitation policy for dogs and cats, but not for horses.
"We just hope people understand this is not a place for a horse," said Lani Yukimura at Wilcox Memorial Hospital. "It's a very dangerous thing. Our greatest concern is patient care."
The horse was not allowed into the ward and the well-intentioned relative and the animal were escorted to the grounds by security staff, who commented "The lift was only a little scuffed".
Later the patient was taken down to see his favourite stallion.
His reaction? "That's not my horse"!
Taking pets to see patients in hospital is a great idea. There's only one problem I can see with a horse and that's their size in the elevator. Only a couple of horses could fit, plus their caregivers.
D