[nagdu] minature horses as guides

[Pam]

i was wondering the same thing too if they would have to live outside or could they live indoors.

Sent from my iPhone

> On 21 Jun 2015, at 20:18, Valerie Gibson via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> This is very interesting to me, and i have a couple questions and comments.
> 
> First, I don't think the ADA recognizes guide horses.   Is this true?
> 
> Second, is it also true that guide horses must live outside rather than indoors?
> 
> Again, very interesting topic.  Thanks for sharing your experience with the guide horses.
>> On Jun 21, 2015, at 1:13 PM, Ann Edie via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 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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