[NAGDU] guide horses

Thu Jun 22 12:32:32 UTC 2023

I don't know much about guide horses.  If they do the job right, then I presume we should accept and even welcome their use.  Horses working for humans is not exactly an exotic notion, even if guide horses in particular may seem to be because of their rarity.

That said, I certainly hope Seeing Eye doesn't get into that business.  Let it do its job well, as it has for me, and, if it makes sense, let there be guide horse schools.  

That's my take, anyway.

Al

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Josh via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2023 7:56 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users' <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: joshknnd1982 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] guide horses

I have responded to all of your points below. 

You write: you said: OK, i’ll be my usual blunt self here. Just because you like horses and think they are cool does not mean that you should use one as a guide dog. I respond: And exactly why not? They have 350 degree vision, their manure and waste is so much easier to clean, they are naturally clean animals... you wrote: I really like goats. Goats are as smart as a dog. Why couldn’t i have a guide goat? I respond: because nobody has researched how good goats are, if at all, for guide work yet. you write: Because, it’s not covered under the laws. I respond: ok so if goats and horses are not covered under the laws, lets get them covered. And if you want a guide goat, first you need a goat to experiment with to see how well it can work as a guide, if at all. Maybe it can, maybe it cannot. at this point we don't know... you write: Dogs are. Because you would be bothered everywhere you went. I respond: Maybe you would be bothered a bit more than with a dog. But not much more, if at all. I think people would be more curious than anything and it would provide educational opportunities to make people aware of the benefits of guide horses and guide goats if in fact, its proven that goats can realy guide blind people, that is. you write: Because you would have to have a yard with a stall area in it for the animal. I write: A class A 26 to 30 inch tall mini can live in the average backyard. You can get collapsable stalls. you write: Because a horse and a goat are flight animals. Well, horses more than goats even. I respond: Yes they are flight animals. But I do know that horses can be desensitized so they don't spook. Just like how police horses are desensitized for use in crowd control and riot situations. And yes, minis can be housebroken. 
you write: How about having a horse for driving or showing in halter if you want the minis. I write: yes those things are fun, but if I and others want a guide horse, and you and others want a guide dog, both options should be equally fine and acceptable to all. Guide dog schools such as the seeing eye should be accepting of it, embrace it fully, and offer the options of horses or dogs, you write: Man, i do see why we have had troubles with all the airlines and ubers and the like. 
Dogs, and dogs alone. And, we are having all sorts of troubles just with that. Keep the farm animals on the ranch i say! I write: your prespective is very close-minded and limiting to us future guide horse users. I would encourage you to please open your minds to the possibility of guide horses and their widespread use alongside guide dog users which are equally valuable, in the future.

-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Vivianna via NAGDU
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 22:36
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Vivianna <irishana at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Juno

OK, i’ll be my usual blunt self here. Just because you like horses and think they are cool does not mean that you should use one as a guide dog. I really like goats. Goats are as smart as a dog. Why couldn’t i have a guide goat? Because, it’s not covered under the laws. Dogs are. Because you would be bothered everywhere you went. Because you would have to have a yard with a stall area in it for the animal. Because a horse and a goat are flight animals. Well, horses more than goats even. 
How about having a horse for driving or showing in halter if you want the minis.
Man, i do see why we have had troubles with all the airlines and ubers and the like. 
Dogs, and dogs alone. And, we are having all sorts of troubles just with that. Keep the farm animals on the ranch i say!
JMHO

Vivianna

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 21, 2023, at 9:02 PM, Danielle Ledet via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> The Guide Horse Foundation is out of business. You would have to get 
> a private trainer.
> 
>> On 6/21/23, Al Sten-Clanton via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Which school?
>> 
>> Al
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via 
>> NAGDU
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 10:25 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Cindy Ray <cindyray at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [NAGDU] Juno
>> 
>> I have a Juno walk next Tuesday. I am really excited about it.
>> 
>> 
>> Cindy Lou Ray
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> Cindyray at gmail.com
>> 
>> 
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> 
> 
> --
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