[nagdu] Guide Horse, was: Have to Ask

Tue May 26 22:41:41 UTC 2009

Hi, Nicole,

Yes, Panda plays.  She has even invented her own game.

When she's in the house, she likes to play fetch with a canvas frisbee or 
her small stuffed toys.  She brings them back to me and places them right in 
my hand, so I will toss them again.  Of course she also likes to snuggle 
with me, and she likes to stand by my side while I'm cutting up vegetables 
or fruit; she tries to look her cutest so that I won't be able to resist 
giving her a treat.

The game Panda invented is called "Panda Catch".  It is played in a large 
indoor or outdoor enclosed space, with two or more people and Panda.  Panda 
runs to stand in heel position by the side of one of the people.  When she 
is in perfect position, the person clicks and gives Panda a tiny treat. 
Then she dashes off to another person, approaching them from the front, 
circling around behind them, and coming up on their left side into heel 
position, racing between the people as if she were a little barrel racer and 
the people were the barrels.  She waits patiently for her click and treat, 
and then gallops off to "catch" another person.  It's a great game for using 
up excess energy in the middle of winter when ice and cold keep us from 
getting a lot of walking in.  And the humans don't have to move at all, 
although they can take evasive actions and Panda will keep up with them 
until she captures them by getting into heel position.

She is quite the little personality.

Best,
Ann

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Horse, was: Have to Ask

> Does your horse play?
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "sarah baebler" <wolvessarah at hotmail.com>
> To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 8:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Guide Horse, was: Have to Ask
>
>
>
> Ann,
> I have a question and I'm not trying to make fun or anything.  I'm curious
> to know the process of desensitizing a horse.  I work at a stable and 
> horse
> get spooked sometimes, esp by snakes.  I'm wondering what the program does
> for the horses when their young.  Like at GDB they put them in rooms with
> kids, cats, and other animals. Do they do that?
> Curiously,
> Sarah
>
>> From: annedie at nycap.rr.com
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 04:41:29 -0400
>> Subject: [nagdu] Guide Horse, was: Have to Ask
>>
>> Hi, Nicole,
>>
>> I guess that would be me, Ann Edie, and my miniature horse guide, Panda.
>> Panda has been my guide for almost six years now, since the summer of
>> 2003.
>>
>> I'm not sure exactly what you mean by the differences in behavior between
>> guide dogs and miniature horse guides, but Panda performs all the same
>> guide
>> tasks as a well-trained guide dog does.  The care of a miniature horse is
>> generally similar to that of a dog--feeding, grooming, relieving, and
>> providing exercise, mental stimulation, and companionship.  Some of the
>> details are different, of course, due to the different species.
>>
>> As far as access issues are concerned, I have had very few instances of
>> reluctance on the part of business operators to allow me into their
>> facilities with my guide horse.  The exception has been one of the major
>> guide dog training programs and airlines.
>>
>> The major differences between working with a guide horse and a guide
>> dog--I
>> worked with 3 guide dogs before getting Panda--from my point of view, are
>> that I never have to worry about Panda bolting off to chase a cat or 
>> other
>> animal, and that I can expect my partnership with Panda to go on getting
>> deeper and more wonderful for decades to come.
>>
>> I'm happy to answer any other questions you have about working or living
>> with a guide horse.
>>
>> Best,
>> Ann
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Nicole B. Torcolini" <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, May 25, 2009 4:11 PM
>> Subject: [nagdu] Have to Ask
>>
>>
>> > It has come up twice recently and I can't help but asking.  Who owns 
>> > the
>> > guide horse?  I would be interested in knowing more, especially how the
>> > behavior, care, and access issues compare to those of a dog.
>> > _______________________________________________
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>>
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