[nagdu] minature horses as guides

[Ann Edie]

Hi, Pam,

I don't know which miniature horse guide and partner was shown in the
program you saw, but I have worked with a mini horse guide for the past 11
years. I know of 3 or 4 other people who are long-term guide horse partners.
Like everything else, there are advantages and disadvantages of using a
miniature horse as a guide as compared with using a dog guide or a white
cane. The major advantage of using a miniature horse guide is that the
lifespan of a miniature horse averages at least twice the lifespan of a dog.
Miniature horses live easily into their thirties and can work well into
their twenties. The major disadvantages of the mini horse guide as compared
with dogs is that they take up a little more space and that they need to be
relieved more often than do dogs. I had 3 dog guides before I got my
miniature horse guide, and in my experience, my miniature horse performs
better and more consistently in her work than did any of my dog guides, even
my very excellent first guide. My mini, Panda, started working when she was
2 years old. She is now 14, and she just keeps getting better and better,
more confident and intuitive. As you might imagine, we communicate by tiny
movements and shifts and she seems to read my intentions even before I can
consciously give her a cue. And I can look forward to many more years of
joyous travels with her. We have had almost no difficulty with access to
public places or transportation.

I don't think many people will be switching from guide dogs to miniature
horse guides in the near future because more people are familiar with dogs
than with horses and because there is (as far as I know) no active guide
horse training program in operation at this time. All the miniature horse
guide teams I am familiar with except the first have been owner-trained or
privately trained.

There's lots of information on the web about miniature horse guides and
miniature horses used as service animals for people with other disabilities.
Information about my partner Panda can be found on the website of her
trainer which is: www.theclickercenter.com

Best,
Ann

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Pam via nagdu
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2015 2:04 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Cc: Pam
Subject: [nagdu] minature horses as guides



i was watching a program about ghide dogs the other day and there was a
woman in the US who had a minature horse as a guide. just wondering what u
all think of the idea? do u think it will catch on? personally i'd prefer a
dog though :) Sent from my iPhone
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