Why use a mini horse?
There are many compelling reasons to use miniature horses as guide animals. In nature, horses have been shown to possess a natural guide instinct. When another horse goes blind in a herd, a sighted horse accepts responsibility for the welfare of the blind horse and guides it with the herd. Some blind people ride alone on trails for many miles, completely relying on the horse to guide them safely to their destination. Cavalry horses have been known to guide injured or unconscious riders to safety. The GHF finds several characteristics of horses that make them suitable to guide the blind: • They are cost-effective. Training a guide dog can cost up to $60,000. There are currently more than 1.3 million legally blind people in the USA, yet only 7,000 guide animal users. Because horses are easy to train and live longer lives, they could be more cost-effective and ensure that more blind people receive a guide animal. • They are often better accepted. Many guide dog users report problems getti
