Category: Animal House
Very strange, but at this year's NFB National Convention (which I was unable to attend this year unfortunately), there was a very strange sighting of "seeing-eye ponies". It seems stupid in my opinion but everyone's got their opinion lol. They say they work like guide dogs but a little larger, and aren't horses but actually miniature ponies. I personally woul be against it because they smell, cost a lot for food, vet bills, shelter etc and they even said that they can go in a cab and use the escalators etc. Not too sure how the horse shit part works though, someone told me that one person had a poop bag attached to the ponies rear end *Gross*
These people also are rom out west where I guess it's more appropriate since there is open land and more country, but they also said that they can work in city-environments as well.
Liz
I've wondered the same thing. But evidently it works for enough people to make it worthwhile.
nothing like a little education from Mr. Google.
Here I typed Guide Horse FAQ and got the Frequently Asked Questions from the Guide Horse foundation:
http://www.guidehorse.org/faq.htm
Education beats eww every time.
ah yes i remember seeing a program on tv about this once and i thought it was funny but i think they may of mentioned it is there isn't enough supply of dogs.
I have to agree they would be a bit harder to manage though they sound cool, smiles.
Hi Liz,
I have heard of this, but thought that it got discontinued. IMO whatever floats your boat... personally, it wouldn't work for me, because A. I am highly, highly elergic to horses, ponies, etc and so a guide horse just wouldn't work for me. Now if it was a guide kittie, I'd be cool with lol! but anyways, sounds interesting... and yes, they do smell.. I think dogs are discusting when they get that dog smell, ya'll know what I'm talking about either a wet dog, or a dog that just smells like dog.... when that happends, I get elergic... and+ it's nasty... but other then that, okay.. I think having a guide horse/ponie would be a little strange, but who am I to judge? If it makes the person happy, and they are able to lead a successful life, then that's cool. whatever works. me personally no, but I don't even have a guide dog because 99% of them are labs and goldins, and the seeing eye sounds like a really strict school if your mobility skills aren't crossing lighted intersections perfectly, so I don't think I'm gonna go that rout and+ if I were even to get any sort of guide pet, it'd most definitely have to be a german shepherd. but anyways interesting topic, and interesting idea.
Amber
Hello Liz. Well, I've heard of them but I feel there are a lot of disadvantages to these as well. Actually, Dogs smell too, yeah maybe Guide horses live longer but I'd think they are a bit harder to mannage. This is just me, though.
Dogs don't have to smell though. I have kept dogs in the house and you don't have to smell them.
Seems a hourse would naturally sweat as hourses do, but I've never seen these small ones.
Interesting.
That's definitely true. Dogs don't have to smell. And i can relate to the guide kitty thing LOL, although any cat large enough to do gidework would make me just a teensy bit nervous.
Well taken care of horses don't smell either, unless you press your nose right up against their skin. I grew up with horses, they didn't smell. The barn smelled, but not because of the horses.
The horses have a lot of advantages too. They can see coors for example, so they can tell you when the light changes, or where the crossing button is. They have speed commands, so it can walk with one command, or trot with another.
They also have drawbacks. They need room, and a barn, and the food is more expensive. You also have two horses to take care of and exercise.
Educate yourself first, then judge. Don't just assume you know something and form an opinion around that.
Oh, and amber, you can request a specific dog breed. It may take longer to match you, but you can request it. And your mobility skills don't have to be perfect, though I wish they did.
Not only that butI thought the Seeing Eye only offered German Shepherds. At least they did the last time I spoke with a representative from there, and that was admittedly about eight years ago.
intresting to hear the different things about this topic and I bet it would be more expensive and harder to manage but still pretty cool, smiles.
I had a german sherphard as a guide dog and it was pretty cool, smiles.
I thought that the guide horse training was discontinued.
No vet or groomer bills for the guide robot; I'll wait. LOL.
Just the costs of replacement hardware or whatever when it goes on the blink as it inevitably will from time to time.
Your replacement dog costs $20,000 only you don't pay for it, so. Moot point.
wow that is a lot of money and who pays for it if you don't?
Um, you definitely don't have to obtain a guide horse from the Guide Horse Foundation in order to have a guide horse. Have you ever heard of owner training? If you haven't, owner training is training your own service animal. –Many people do this with dogs, and some train their own guide horse or have it privately trained.
Here's the low down on guide horses, pasted from another thread on the boards.
Here's the scoop on guide horses:
It takes about six months to a year to train them for guide work. Called pigmy horses, they have to measure less than 26 inches at the shoulders to enter the guide horse program, and they are generally between 55 to 100 pounds. The standards for a miniature horse range from 28 to 38 inches. Thus, their size allows for them to ride inside just about any vehicle with the right training. Just like dogs, weight gain can be a problem in pigmy horses.
It is best to keep guide horses in an enclosed outdoor area or a barn when they are not working. Their natural odor is not strong if they are groomed regularly and bathed periodically. Sitting is neither comfortable neither natural for these horses. They go through desensitization training, and they also learn to spook in place. These horses can be housebroken, and taught to make a certain noise or motion to communicate their need to relieve themselves.
Benefits:
1. they are a possible alternative for people who are allergic to dogs, or people who enjoy horses rather than dogs.
2. Miniature/pigmy horses live one-third longer than the 25-35 years of an average horse, and up to 4 times longer than a dog.
3. They have a wider field of vision because of the location of their eyes, giving them the ability to see 350 degrees.
4. Horses are not as easily distracted as dogs.
5. Fleas are not a problem for mini horses
6. They are all trained to be three-gaited, meaning with a voice command they will assume a slow walk, walk, or trot.
Some drawbacks might be searching for an equine veterinarian and a farrier to trim the hooves. It is absolutely necessary to keep horses outdoors or in a barn because they need fresh air since they are highly susceptible to respiratory ailments. Guide horses can go upstairs, but they are trained to choose ramps whenever possible.
From: guidehorse.org/faq
Research doesn't hurt, I promise.
thanks for the information you have posted here and it is a interesting read too, smiles.