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Question about guide horses

 

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Hi Josh! ?I¡¯d be interested in learning more about the quality of training available for guide horses and their handlers nowadays. ?When guide horses were first introduced many years ago, there was a LOT of concern about the training of the horses and their blind handlers. ?

Guide dog programs have developed standards addressing the need for safety and reliability of their graduates, based on many decades of experience with training thousands of blind guide dog handlers. ?They have an international organization that reviews and approves programs (I¡¯m copying Lee Stanway, who is coming to Alabama from the UK to present on this topic at SOMA in October somaconference.org).

If I remember correctly, the folks who raised and trained guide horses were not interested in learning much about blind travelers and guiding from the GDMI / O&M community. ?Has that changed? ?Are there people in the guide horse world who have developed a curriculum and established standards, and a procedure to review and verify that the guide horse program is meeting those standards?

If so, THAT is what I¡¯d be interested in learning more about. ?I have no interest in leaning more about the advantages of guide horses vs guide dogs in terms of their life span and hips.

Thanks!

¡ª Dona
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
www.sauerburger.org

On Aug 1, 2024, at 8:38 AM, Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982@...> wrote:

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Holly Fisher gave me permission to share these emails, but I edited this one a bit because some of it pertained to other things...?
Holly Fisher wrote:
Yes mini horses are not prone to the crippling effects caused by hip dysplasia, like many large breed dogs are.
This brings me to another interesting thought about a dependable stability partner, pound for pound, a mini horse is stronger than a K9. A mini mule is stronger than a mini horse. A mini donkey's stamina would surpass them all. Donkeys are efficient with their nutrition, ?making them extremely low maintenance. They require less food & water, so less potty breaks & visits with a Farrier. Donkeys are nimble & can support more weight than any other animal similar in size. ?I personally know several mini donkeys that, if given the choice, will leave their herd to be next to their human. The only down side I can think of, is if their handler had other small pets like a cat or dog. Donkeys are protective & some have been known to attack smaller animals.?
You have articulated several interesting reasons why horses are more in alignment with service work than our K9 friends. The list continues to grow...
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I respond: mini donkeys are not covered under the ADA, not yet. Since mini horses are, and if you have at least a 20x20 yard, you can have one. That is what another former guide horse trainer told me.
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There are currently no standards for training guide horses. Just like there were no standards for training the first guide dogs in the 1920s and 1930s. However, Holly Fisher does have other trainers interested. This time its not just her, as in one person doing the training. Feel free to email Holly Fisher at:
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I am sure she would welcome your help and the help of others to develop training standards which should be adhered to, to ensure a good experience for the blind guide horse owner and handler.?
 

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Thank you Josh - that answers my question very well. ?I¡¯ll copy her and encourage her to reach out to dog guide schools as she develops her training and standards.

¡ª Dona
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª
Dona Sauerburger, COMS
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for the blind
www.sauerburger.org

On Aug 2, 2024, at 8:38 AM, Josh Kennedy <joshknnd1982@...> wrote:

chromedcamo@...

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