When most people picture Miniature Horses, they envision companion animals or mounts for small children. Sometimes Miniature Horses serve as driving horses, and they're also shown in-hand.
But Cuddles the Miniature Horse has a very different type of job. Cuddles helps her owner to see. Cuddles acts as her owner's eyes, guiding him through stores, on subways, and down sidewalks. Much like a seeing eye dog, Cuddles helps to keep her owner safe, alerting him to obstacles which are in the way and carefully guiding him around them.
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As surprising as it may be to see a Miniature Horse walking through a store, Cuddles isn't the only Miniature Horse guide horse out there. According to the Guide Horse Foundation, there are many reasons why guide horses are sometimes favored over guide dogs. For instance, guide horses can be a solution for people who are allergic to dogs, or who are looking for a guide animal with a longer lifespan. Guide horses are strong enough to provide physical support, such as when helping a person from a chair. They're also ideal for people who have a fear of dogs. The fact that horses live outside adds to their appeal for people who don't necessarily want a guide animal living in their homes.
It's important to realize that guide horses receive specialized training before they are ready to assist a person. Horses must be taught how to walk on a lead, how to respond to voice commands, how to avoid both stationary and moving obstacles, how to recognize changes in the surfaces in front of them and more. Handlers also need to receive training in order to be able to work with their guide horses.
While Miniature Horses may seem limited because of their small size, they actually make great guide animals. These versatile horses are talented in many disciplines - in short, they're pretty amazing!
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