Posted on 01/02/2009 11:15:34 AM PST by JoeProBono
Guide Horses have shown great promise as a mobility option, and people who have tried Guide Horses report that the Guide Horses perform exceptionally well at keeping their person safe. These friendly horses provide an experimental alternative mobility option for blind people. People who have tried Guide Horses report that the horses demonstrate excellent judgment and are not easily distracted by crowds and people.
Cheesecake & salad?
Relief
Thanks Joe, they are just so cute! I never heard of this before reading this article. One thing that amazes me is that horses are NOT very smart compared to dogs.
"Yeah, walk around all day behind a horse. Great idea."
Thanks for the ping, Jem. Cute!
These horses are adorable!
Thanks for the ping.
attention seeking behaivor.
Although the Seeing Eye Horse costs more to train, they also live a lot longer than a Seeing Eye Dog and I believe I recall that dollar for dollar, the Seeing Eye Horse is a better investment.
Long Lifespan - Miniature Horse can live to be more than 50 years old, with the average lifespan being 30-40 years. According to guide dog trainers, guide dogs have a useful life between 8-12 years.
Long Lifespan - Miniature Horse can live to be more than 50 years old, with the average lifespan being 30-40 years. According to guide dog trainers, guide dogs have a useful life between 8-12 years.
As a horse owner and student of natural horsemanship, I would prefer that horses are in a more natural environment than a guide horse would experience.
I would opt for a guide dog if I needed this service.
A dog is a predator, a horse a prey animal. The instincts between these 2 species are opposite, making the horse less desirable than the dog as a guide.
I think the predator by nature, the dog, would be more comfortable in most situations encountered as a guide, than would a horse, whose basic nature is to protect itself from being eaten by predators.
And BTW, no you cannot potty train a horse.
They ideally eat in the trickle method, grazing is best. But if pasture is not available, many small meals of good hay and clean water during the day and evening is the best way to simulate a natural grazing habit.
This trickle eating, small bits at a time, keeps the gut working properly, and keeps a frequent and steady production of fertilizer exiting the rear of the horse.
A horse goes when it wants to, #1 or #2, look out here it comes....
The dog, being a predator, has larger meals, fewer times a day and can be trained to wait until it is outside to “go”. Horses are so different from dogs, they are opposites, predator v. prey.
I agree with the cuteness.
[I agree with the cuteness.]
Yeah, we all agree with that. I’m sure they are very expensive and the ones shown look well fed.
My kids had three horses. They are wonderful for riding but not especially smart. A dog supposedly has the intelligence of a two year old human child and that’s not bad if you think about it.
They’re from a small town close to where I live. I used to run into Janet and Cuddles frequently but the place we met has closed so I haven’t seen her (nor the horses) for a good while.
I just don't see it. I mean, they're cute and all, but given some of the horses I have known versus dogs I have known, I think I would opt for the dog if I lost my sight.
Even a SMALL panicky horse is a dangerous object. It took three of us (vet, farrier, and yours truly) to hold a very small mini for his shots. And horses are prone to panic. The best horse I ever had was the most bombproof equine ever, but when she DID panic -- look out! Probably has something to do with their being Movable Lunch on the Prairie.
They also can't really be toilet trained. When they have to go, they have to go. I've had horses that didn't like to dirty their stalls and would always go outside, but outside had to be available - if they were cut off from their paddock they would just let fly where they stood.
I just don't see it. Too bad, 'cause it's a cute idea.
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