Currently I have only given my perspective from what Bella has done for me, and how she acts. I wanted to shed some light on a few of the other Service Animals. I thought this was a good idea seeing as how I am trying to give a reason why people with ailments should have something as their comfort mechanism.

For this Post I will Focus on Miniature Horses. Simply because I think they are cute and I wanted to learn more about them.

To start with I found a small section from the ADA, American Disability Act ( or association however you choose to call it) , on Miniature horses.

“A public entity or private business must allow a person with a disability to bring a miniature horse on the premises as long as it has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability. However, an organization can consider whether the facility can accommodate the miniature based on the horse’s type, size, and weight. The rules that apply to service dogs also apply to miniature horses.”

Now, I know you may be asking why would a miniature horse help me. Well, I’ll say it again, they’re really cute. The ACTUAL reason why a horse may be a good choice is because they can be a guide animal, when someone is blind or has visual impairments. They have the ability to keep their owner safe when guiding them thus providing safe support as a service animal. They also work well as an emotional support animals.

Just like all service animals, service horses will respond to their user, pick up dropped items and medication and support them in public places, helping them live a more independent life. What they do all depends on how the Owner trains them and how they meet the needs of their individual owner, working to their individual needs and disability.

“Training a miniature horse is very extensive and more intense than training a service dog because horses are often easily spooked. They need to become desensitized to these situations (no mice – they move really fast and run on their hooves) by working calming through distractions. This is to ensure they will not become spooked in a social situation and become un-supportive to their owner. Because of this, a lot of hours are needed to help train horses and adapt them to the house, tasks, and environment for the owner to be comfortable.” – U.S. Service animals Registration.

 

The most special parts about having a Miniature horse is that horses live a long time (up to 35 years old!) and can work for 20 + years. This gives the owner support for a long time. They, unlike regular sized horses, are very easy to groom and don’t shed or trigger allergies like dogs can sometimes do. For people with severe allergies , A Miniature horse is more along the way to go.

Miniature horses, however, do not have the social drive which means they will happily stand quietly for a long time whilst working and out in public, without making a sound. I found this extremely cute. I would love to just see a mini horse standing there doing it’s job, wearing it’s vest all cute like. I am really fascinated by them. I will not be getting a mini horse however, I already have Bella.