Patrick to be a special guest at Torbay Business Awards

Patrick the pony, otherwise known as the Mayor of Cockington, will be a special guest at the Torbay Weekly Naturally Inspiring Business Awards after receiving more than 20 nominations across five categories.

He will be outside the English Riviera International Centre greeting guests before the ceremony on  June 11.

The miniature Shetland pony made history in 2022 when he was named the unofficial mayor of Cockington following a campaign led by local residents. Patrick had lived in the village for around two years and played an active role in the community — visiting hospitals, recovery groups, mental health wards and schools to support people in need.

Patrick has built a loyal fanbase, with nearly 150,000 followers on the Facebook page, The Adventures of Patrick the Pony. He has also appeared on ITV1’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. He was nominated for the Commissioner’s Business Community Champion, Sport, Health and Wellbeing, Tourism Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Rising Star awards.

Owners Kirk and Hannah Petrakis said they were “amazed” by the number of nominations Patrick received and were particularly moved by the recognitions in the community champion and wellbeing categories.

The couple say they’ve both witnessed the powerful effects of animal therapy. As part of their outreach work, they take Patrick to visit mental health patients at Torbay Hospital.

Kirk said: “We go out into the community with Patrick and help people — spending time with them, speaking to them, and just giving them some happiness and hope that they can have a better life. Patrick interacting with people can make them feel happier in themselves.”

They regularly receive messages from individuals sharing how Patrick has supported them — often during periods of grief or anxiety.

Above: The Mayor of Cockington with the Mayor of Brixham on VE Day

“One woman, who was in hospital awaiting an MRI scan, was told by the nurse to think of something positive. She chose Patrick,” said Kirk. “Another girl, who struggled to return to school after the anxiety of lockdown, began therapy walks with Patrick. When she finally returned to school, she took a photo of him with her. There are so many stories I could tell you. It feels so good to have helped so many people.”

Animal therapy is also deeply personal for Kirk, who found comfort in animals after experiencing abuse from his father as a child. I used to tell animals my problems, because at that time in my life, I didn’t trust humans. I found a connection with animals. 

“I see that same effect with Patrick. Especially when working with mental health patients, people tend to open up more. And I completely understand that — because I’ve been there myself.”

In addition to his therapeutic work, Patrick has also become an ambassador for tourism in the bay. His role as mayor of Cockington has drawn visitors from across the world — including New Zealand, Canada, the United States and Bangladesh — to talks held by Kirk, Hannah and Patrick around the village.

Above: Family on a Cockington tour walk with Patrick

Their TripAdvisor page, launched just five months ago, already features glowing reviews.

Patrick’s social media channels showcase images of Cockington village and beach outings. According to Kirk, Patrick not only enjoys swimming, but the beach visits are also beneficial to ponies' mental wellbeing.

Kirk and Hannah began working with horses and ponies after Kirk was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm ten years ago. Before that, he worked as a chef at Torbay Hospital. Following his diagnosis, he found day-to-day activities challenging — but outings with Patrick helped him rebuild his confidence.

He said: “The most rewarding part of our work is knowing we’re helping people. Seeing people smile and hearing how we’ve made a difference to their lives is incredibly fulfilling — for me, Hannah and Patrick.”

While Kirk says they are regularly approached by new organisations and aren’t sure what’s next, one thing remains certain: they plan to continue their community work.

“Because Patrick is all about happiness,” he said.