Guide horses for the blind?

[Mare Stare]

I was mooching about on the interent when I found this:

http://www.guidehorse.org/

I've never seen or heard anything like this.

 

[sianb]

I saw this on an episode of ER once and I had to look twice! A great idea if you ask me.

 

[rhino]

I have seen a couple of documentaries on this, and have to say that personally I feel very sorry for the ponies, we complain about racehorses/competition horses leading unnatural lifestyles but IMO this is far worse. Horses can be great friends but they are not companions in the same way a dog is.

It does serve to reinforce just how tolerant horses can be, and how desensitised by training.

Taken from the website

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.

Plus a lot of the pictures on the site show horses with serious deformities, due in part to congenital dwarfism. Despite the website saying they don't use dwarf ponies.

 

[ArabianGold]

Have those shetlands got trainers on ??????

OR is it my eyes?


I have seen this on TV not sure where but somewhere highly intelligent. Wouldn't want to poo pick up after it on the pavement though

 

[Mare Stare]

Have those shetlands got trainers on ??????

OR is it my eyes?

I hadn't noticed that!! Yes it does look like trainers. I'm assuming they're some kind of hoof boot??

Just realised the link isn't working on the first post. Here it is: http://guidehorse.org/

 

[Super_Kat]

BOOTIES! Proper cute

 

[ABC]

I agree with rhino.

Sorry but I think its cruel.

 

[Mare Stare]

Found a page on the shoes: http://guidehorse.org/horse_sneakers.htm