Andover miniature therapy horse Stewie Vuitton a finalist in Cadbury Bunny contest

ANDOVER - Stewie Vuitton, a therapy mini horse from Andover, is a finalist in the annual Cadbury Bunny contest.

For the fifth year, the candy brand has put out a call to pet owners in search of the next big star for its Easter ad. This year it is all about rescue pets.

Stewie, from Lifting Spirits Miniature Therapy Horses, was rescued from an auction 16 months ago. The 5-year-old horse now spends his days conducting therapy visits with people in need.

"Horses are amazing because they mirror exactly what the person is going through," said founder Toni Hadad. "They have so many health benefits. They can lower stress, anxiety, heart rates, breathing rates, so they're amazing to work with."  

Thanks to his ability to stand in front of the camera, Stewie is now representing New England and miniature horses in the competition, hoping to win up to $10,000 for Lifting Spirits to continue their mission.

"It's been overwhelming," Hadad said. "We started in 2017 with two horses and six facilities and now we have a total of 10 horses and we visit over 125 facilities around New England." 

Click here to vote for Stewie and to see the other finalists.