In a corner of France, a horse named Peyo is changing the way end-of-life care is experienced. This majestic animal, with its glossy chestnut coat and serene gaze, has accompanied more than 1,000 terminally ill patients in their final moments, offering comfort not only to those saying goodbye to the world, but also to their families and medical staff.

Peyo is no ordinary horse. Accompanied by his trainer Hassen Bouchakour, this animal visits hospitals and palliative care units where his presence has a profound emotional impact. Scientific studies have shown that contact with animals can reduce stress, alleviate pain, and improve emotional well-being, and Peyo confirms this with every step he takes through the hospital corridors.

What's most impressive is that Peyo chooses whom to accompany. Without any prompting, the horse stops in front of certain rooms and gently approaches patients who seem to need him. He has witnessed the last breaths of many people, offering his warmth and tranquility in moments that, without his presence, would be even more painful.

This project, called Les Sabots du Coeur (The Hooves of the Heart), also has a therapeutic impact on family members, who find comfort in seeing that their loved one does not depart alone, and on healthcare professionals, who face the constant emotional strain of working with terminally ill patients.

More than just a simple gesture, Peyo's presence invites us to rethink end-of-life care. Could the human-animal connection become a key tool for humanizing medicine? In France, this horse is already making his mark… in the hearts of many.