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Assistance Animals - The Seeing Eye Horse
 By Artista
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12th Apr 2011 •
17,799 views
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22 comments
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You might have heard of seeing eye dogs before, but what about a seeing eye horse?
 Seeing Eye horses (Also called Assistance Animals, Guide Ponies, etc.) aren't a huge trend in the world of assistance animals, but in special cases, they do exist. Just like seeing eye dogs are trained to assist their blind handlers, these miniature horses and ponies are trained to do the same thing.
The reasons seeing eye horses are used instead of dogs are numerous. In some cases, such as in the Muslim religion, where dogs are "forbidden" horses make the ideal substitute for blind handlers. For others, the horses provide more stability than even the largest of dogs, and they have a tenancy to be less cumbersome. Also, because a horses range of vision is much wider than a dogs, they tend to make ideal candidates for handlers who have a more severe (or total) loss of vision.
Assistance animals come in many shapes and sizes. Working as a trainer, I have seen everything from Capuchin monkeys to Bengal cats and beyond. Dogs still tend to make the best choice because of their high trainability and public acceptance, but miniature horses are gaining popularity. They are outfitted with special boots to hep them grip on slippery floors (and so they don't scratch the expensive floors of some building) and trained to do everything from load quietly into a car, tolerate airplane rides, close and open doors, turn off lights, and in some cases, can be trained on special phones to dial 911 in case their handler is in distress.
Always remember to respect service animals when you see them in public places. Never call them to you, offer to feed, pet, or play with them. They are working to help someone with a disability, and do their jobs best when they can focus! |
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More From This Author: Artista
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Soul Horse
That is so cute my dad saw one of them once, great job of informing us artista!
That is so cute my dad saw one of them once, great job of informing us artista!
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Apr 12, 2011
• 9,844 views
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ImaCoolCowgirl
I was going to do an article on this but you beat me to it!! Nice job. Another thing about them is they don't naturally crave human attention as dogs do. Also they can understand and learn some where around 105 words (if I remember from when I did research on them). The only down side to them is its hard for them to be inside 24 7 because of the strain on their repiratory system. Another thing his they are not independendt like dogs and they often need a buddy wether it be a goat, cat, sheep, or another mini.
I was going to do an article on this but you beat me to it!! Nice job. Another thing about them is they don't naturally crave human attention as dogs do. Also they can understand and learn some where around 105 words (if I remember from when I did research on them). The only down side to them is its hard for them to be inside 24 7 because of the strain on their repiratory system. Another thing his they are not independendt like dogs and they often need a buddy wether it be a goat, cat, sheep, or another mini.
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Apr 12, 2011
• 10,386 views
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Apr 12, 2011
• 9,854 views
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MoMoz
Awww!!!! I have heard of Assistance ponies before! Now I want one... haha! If I were blind, I would definitely pick one over a dog!!
Awww!!!! I have heard of Assistance ponies before! Now I want one... haha! If I were blind, I would definitely pick one over a dog!!
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Apr 12, 2011
• 9,850 views
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SkysTheLimit
that is really good that there are horses in training for that job it is amaizing
that is really good that there are horses in training for that job it is amaizing
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Apr 13, 2011
• 10,418 views
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Cruisin Past Curfew
Oh I have seen these kinds of horses on a show on Animal Planet, they are just the cutest things :)
Oh I have seen these kinds of horses on a show on Animal Planet, they are just the cutest things :)
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Apr 13, 2011
• 10,385 views
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Isadorable
Cute! Great explination!!
Cute! Great explination!!
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Apr 13, 2011
• 10,403 views
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Wanderin Boy Memorial
Great article ! Learned a lot. I didn't even know that there was such a thing as a seeing eye horse. I've only heard of dogs doing that
Great article ! Learned a lot. I didn't even know that there was such a thing as a seeing eye horse. I've only heard of dogs doing that
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Apr 13, 2011
• 10,418 views
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Spyricale
Awesome article. ^^
I've seen a few service dogs in stores and such. My mom always told me since I was little not to pet strange dogs, so I left them alone anyway. I found out a couple of years ago about seeing-eye horses. I think they are just super adorable!
MoMoz, I would pick a horse as well over a dog. Definitely! :D
I always bugs me when mothers let their kids pet and feed seeing-eye dogs while they're trying to concentrate on helping their owner. Gah.
Awesome article. ^^
I've seen a few service dogs in stores and such. My mom always told me since I was little not to pet strange dogs, so I left them alone anyway. I found out a couple of years ago about seeing-eye horses. I think they are just super adorable!
MoMoz, I would pick a horse as well over a dog. Definitely! :D
I always bugs me when mothers let their kids pet and feed seeing-eye dogs while they're trying to concentrate on helping their owner. Gah.
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Apr 13, 2011
• 10,385 views
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T E M P E S T
Cool, i heard a story on the radio once of a monkey being an assistance animal.
Cool, i heard a story on the radio once of a monkey being an assistance animal.
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Apr 13, 2011
• 10,420 views
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Untamed Heart
If I go blind for some reason I want a horse/pony instead of a dog!
If I go blind for some reason I want a horse/pony instead of a dog!
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Apr 13, 2011
• 10,403 views
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Valkyrie
MOD
0_0 I must try this with my girls! *rushes outside to attempt, comes back inside covered in bruises* Little brats only watch out for themselves ...
Haha. This is such an awesome thing, I remember reading about it a little while ago somewhere. That mini is so gorgeous.
0_0 I must try this with my girls! *rushes outside to attempt, comes back inside covered in bruises* Little brats only watch out for themselves ...
Haha. This is such an awesome thing, I remember reading about it a little while ago somewhere. That mini is so gorgeous.
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Apr 14, 2011
• 10,387 views
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Softball Girl
That is soooooooooooooooo cool!!
That is soooooooooooooooo cool!!
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Apr 14, 2011
• 10,406 views
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T W I
Awww, what a cute photos! Up until I read this article I had no idea that horses could be (Or were allowed to be) used as service animals. Fascinating!
Awww, what a cute photos! Up until I read this article I had no idea that horses could be (Or were allowed to be) used as service animals. Fascinating!
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Apr 14, 2011
• 10,445 views
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athea
OMG that pony is super cute!
OMG that pony is super cute!
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Apr 19, 2011
• 10,574 views
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Depplain
That's incredible!
That's incredible!
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Apr 28, 2011
• 10,590 views
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SkysTheLimit
i like them a bit better than dogs
i like them a bit better than dogs
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Apr 29, 2011
• 10,427 views
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Pintie
So awesome :)
So awesome :)
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May 2, 2011
• 10,401 views
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May 3, 2011
• 10,385 views
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Simplicity
They are cute little ponies!!
They are cute little ponies!!
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May 7, 2011
• 10,383 views
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May 9, 2011
• 10,425 views
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Seven Sins
great article, they are so cute
great article, they are so cute
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Jun 1, 2011
• 10,404 views
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