Guide Horse The Amazing Miniature Horse – by Claire E Anderson

You know I’ve seen these equines once in a while as I’m driving down a country road, or on the RFD-TV Station.  Every single time I see one I think, “Oh my goodness how cute.” 

But, I must confess I sometimes think about owning one but quickly discard the idea thinking it would be nothing more than a pretty pasture ornament.  I wouldn’t be able to ride it.  That’s why I have my big horses, after-all.

But after reading up on this incredible animal I am backing off on my “back-off” for miniatures.

That’s because I never realized how valuable they are as guides.  I was very impressed with the long list of attributes these equines possess.  Each quality is a wonderful asset for anyone who depends upon a well-trained guide animal to assist them in their daily activities.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW REASON WHY MINIATURE HORSES MAKE EXCELLENT GUIDES1

• Cost Effective – The expense to train a miniature horse to be a guide animal is considerably less than the average $60,000 cost to train a dog1
• Excellent Vision – I’ve always known horses have great eyesight but never thought of that trait in terms of assisting a blind person.  Any horse person knows how quickly a horse picks up on any changes, sights, sounds, you name it.
• Size Matters – Miniature Horses stand approximately 34 inches or less in height 4.  While this is a size way too small for riding it’s a great size for a service animal. Pretty much where-ever you will fit your guide horse will fit!
• Good Manners – I loved reading about this one. Apparently these horses can be house broken!
• Long Life – Miniature horses also have a longer life span than a dog, which means they provide years of service to their owners.
  

There’s much more on the Guide Horse website.

ARE MINIATURE HORSES WELL-ESTABLISHED AS GUIDE ANIMALS?

While the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) does allow for the use of trained horses as alternatives to dogs in some situations, it does not particularly make reference to miniature horses.3

But that may very well change, In fact the Horse.com site has a recent article3 out regarding the State of Illinois and its passage of legislation which, “… designates miniature horses as recognized service animals.”

So after reading all this I was wondering of course – as part of my curiosity about horse-related income – what is entailed in training and/or working with miniature horses to prepare them to be guides

MINIATURE HORSE TRAINING CAREER?

Well of course you could go into this as a career, but you need to fully understand the time-line involved and how to acquire the proper training for yourself first. 

From what I’ve researched I would say it is not a career for the novice to undertake.  It seems Janet Burleson2 is a wealth of experience and information regarding the training of miniature horses as guide animals.  I have provided a link to her book, Miniature Horses in the Neighborhood at the end of this blog for you.

Probably the likeliest candidate to become a successful trainer is someone who has already spent some years training horses as well as someone who can learn the specific technique and approach necessary when training miniature horses to be service animals in particular. 

Once again – risking sounding like a broken record by now - The Guide Horse Site is where I recommend you begin.

Here is the link for Janet Burleson’s book: 

Miniature Horses in the Neighborhood
The Miniature Horse as a Suburban Pet by Janet Burleson
With annotations by Dr. Chris O'Malley D.V.M
http://www.rampant-books.com/book_2008_1_mini_horse_neighborhood.htm

 Citation Bibliography:

1 The Guide Horse Foundation. Copyright © 1998 - 2005 by the Guide Horse Foundation Inc. http://www.guidehorse.com/

2 Miniature Horses in the Neighborhood. Janet Burleson. Rampant Tech Press. P.O. Box 511, Kittrell, NC, 27544 http://www.rampant-books.com/book_2008_1_mini_horse_neighborhood.htm

3 Illinois Bill Allows Miniature Horses as Service Animals by: Pat Raia
May 17 2012, Article # 20039 The Horse.com Copyright © 2012 Blood-Horse Publications. All Rights Reserved. PO Box 919003, Lexington, KY 40591-9003 http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20039

4 American Miniature Horse Association. Home Page. AMHA - 5601 South Interstate 35 W - Alvarado, Texas, 76009
Copyright © 1996-2007 American Miniature Horse Association, Inc. All rights reserved.http://www.amha.org/

“Shipping Fever” is an expression or term used to describe the symptoms associated with upper and lower respiratory infections.  Pleuropneumonia is a bacterial infection affecting a horse’s lungs and the area surrounding their lungs. These conditions can be caused by anaerobic bacteria, aerobic bacteria and made worse by viruses.

Pinpointing the exact source of pleuropneumonia is considered impossible.1 Trailering a horse a great distance makes him/her more prone to shipping fever. 

Now the term, “great distance” means different things to different people.  Some experts consider a trip of 5 hours a “great distance” while other experts say 8 to 10 hours or more would be a “great distance.” 

My suggestion would be to factor in your individual horse. In fact, it isn’t always a long extended trip that will result in a sick horse. We all know some horses trailer better than others.  Trailering a horse in particularly hot, humid conditions or in cold weather can be of great concern.  Some horses sweat profusely after a meager 1 hour trip.

Some factors create more risk than others, according to experts.  A key factor is simply the fact of a horse having to stand in a position he or she would never be in out in a pasture; head held high and unable to move and graze on the ground. 2  Stress – as with many ailments – is also a key contributor to making a horse prone to shipping fever.

Make sure you take every precaution necessary.  In trailering situations horses are exposed to drafts, airborne dust and pollen, as well as simply being in a small, confined place for a long period.  Don’t forget a horse will also tend to be stressed over leaving any herd buddies as well as going off to another area amongst strange horses.

The more you can do to ease the stress for your horse the better the horse will fare and the less likely the horse will become ill.

“SHIPPING FEVER” SYMPTOMS

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Appearing and Behaving uneasy, not moving around, not willing to lie down
• Weight Loss – some experts claim a horse can lose 2-5 pounds of body weight for every hour they travel! 3
• Excessive sweating
• Decreased urination
• Dehydration
• Increased heart rate
• Increased respiratory rate
• Coughing
• Nasal Discharge
• Fever
• Colic – This is a complication of shipping fever and can be brought on by the dehydration, refusal to eat, and stress.
• Any changes in your horse’s normal behavior – you are the best judge of how your horse is feeling.  You know your horse – or should – and will spot anything out of the ordinary probably more quickly than anyone.
  

WHAT YOU CAN DO
BEFORE & DURING TRAILERING YOUR HORSE:

• Contact your equine vet and get your horse a complete exam.  Listen to your vet and follow any recommendations he/she may have concerning vaccinations, etc.
• Make the trailer your horse will be in as dust-free as possible.  Remove and clean all mats, sweep or vacuum the floor and other dust-catching surfaces and remove old hay remnants left in the trailer.
• Bring an ample supply of water and hay.  Your horse may not drink unfamiliar water and its best to keep the horse on the hay he/she is used to.  *Remember you are trying to keep the horse’s stress level at a minimum.
• Feed your horse hay soaked in water.  This will keep dust down, increase the horse's fluid intake, and helps prevent an impaction should your horse colic.
• Make frequent stops, say every 2 to 4 hours – depending on the heat - and offer your horse water and food.  Water will be one of your horse’s best allies in prevented shipping fever.
• If the weather is cold be sure to blanket your horse.
• During your stops, get your horse out of the trailer to walk around a bit and get a good drink of water and food.  (Allow your horse to eat from the ground level.  This body position is natural to the horse for eating and drinking.) Balancing in a trailer moving down the road, head tied high is work for a horse!
• Once you arrive at your destination let your horse walk around and relax.  Keep your horse away from other horses until you are sure he/she is doing well.
  

There are many steps you can take to ensure your horse never suffers from shipping fever.  Remember, the more you can do to help the better off your horse will be and the more you both will enjoy yourselves at your destination!

Citation Bibliography:

1 Shipping Fever in Horses. Dr. Aaron Tangeman.  August 16, 2009. Hobby Farms.com. Copyright © 2012 BowTie, Inc. All rights reserved.http://www.hobbyfarms.com/livestock-and-pets/shipping-fever-horses.aspx

2 Understanding Shipping Fever. Karen Coumbe MRCVS. 26 April 2044. Horse & Hound. © Copyright Horse & Hound/ IPC Media. http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/48502.html

3 Transporting a Horse. Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Copyright © 2005-2006 http://vet.tufts.edu/sports/transport.html

Are you a horse enthusiast? Have you been looking over job opportunities for horse lovers who want to work with equines in any shape or form to make a living? If so, be sure not to overlook the field of therapeutic riding.

MAGIC
As avid horse folk we all experience that magical power that a bond with an equine creates for us.  I know just watching them in a pasture, walking amongst them, or hearing their nicker fills me with a kind of peace.   Well that magic is no less evident when it comes to those with cognitive, physical and emotional issues.  Why else would it be such a successful therapy program?   Why is it that a troubled teen, for example, cannot relate to other people but will bond with a horse in an instant? 

If you are not familiar with therapeutic riding and you would like to know more be sure to click on the links provided at the end of this article in the citation section. 

Basically therapeutic riding is a type of therapy which uses riding skills and equine movement combined with various activities to address issues for those people who face challenges both physically and emotionally. The focus of this type of therapy is on maximizing an individual’s abilities as opposed to focusing on a disability.1

SOUND EXCITING?
In order to be employed in this field as an instructor you are required to be certified through PATH International.   “PATH” is an acronym for “Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International” and was formerly known as “NARHA” or “North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.”  The name change was deemed necessary, according to the PATH Intl. site, in order to remove the term “handicapped” and more accurately reflect their goals to “communicate the essence of the organization and promote future growth and expansion. The new name is comprehensible and recognizable.”2 This site provides a vast amount of information not only for those of you who are considering work as a riding instructor, but also those of you who may wish to establish a certified therapeutic riding facility as well.

PATH recommends you first get yourself some experience working with individuals with disabilities at a PATH Intl. location.  It appears many instructors get a start in this career by doing just that as a volunteer.  You can be what are called a “side walker” or a “leader.”2   Not only would this prepare and qualify you for such a career, but volunteering will perhaps determine whether or not this field is the right one for you.

Here is a link to PATH Intl.’s application. (This is a pdf): membership application to the PATH Intl. office.

So just what are some of the attributes and skills required to be a great and successful therapeutic riding instructor?

ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS:

• Excellent communication skills – This means you are a very good listener and that you possess the knowledge and empathy necessary to understand your students.
• Perceptiveness – Knowing how a student is feeling and what he/she needs means you will have to be able to perceive those things since the student will more than likely have a difficult time communicating how he/she feels.
• Good Judgment – You will need this every minute of every day as you work not only with your students but with other personnel.
• etc.
  

Yes, this list goes on and on.  Basically you cannot have too many abilities in the field of therapeutic riding. 

TAKE THE QUIZ?
You can even take a quiz to see if this is a job for you, claims a site called, “My Majors.”3 I will not tell you whether or not this quiz is accurate.  I took it and - while the overall results were not surprising - I have never had an automated test be able to capture everything about me and take such tests with a grain of salt.  But it was fun, and I think you will know whether or not it reflects what you may already know your match career(s) may be. 

• Here is the link that will get you to the quiz:  http://www.mymajors.com/skills-and-knowledge/Therapeutic-Riding-Instructor

HELPING OTHERS:
Helping other people and being able to be amongst horses in the process sounds like a wonderful job for any of us who enjoy helping our fellow man and horses.  So if any of this peaks your interests by all means look into the links below and research this valuable career.

Good luck in your horse-related career search!

Citation Bibliography:

1 “Therapeutic Riding Program” Copyright 2011, http://equine.unh.edu/trp/narha-certification
All rights reserved. Rudman Hall, 46 College Road, Durham, New Hampshire 03824

2 “PATH Intl. FAQs. Name Change” © 2012 Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). All rights reserved. Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International®, PATH International® http://www.pathintl.org/faq

3 “Careers: Therapeutic Riding Instructor” Copyright 2012 MyMajors.com. All rights reserved.
http://www.mymajors.com/skills-and-knowledge/Therapeutic-Riding-Instructor

Our beloved horses can display a variety of symptoms that may – or may not – suggest a nasty allergen lurking somewhere.  While determining 1) if the symptoms are caused by allergies and 2) if so, what the source of the allergen is can be like trying to solve a complicated, poorly lit crime scene.

As with any illness or injury you will always, always serve your equine better if you are familiar with your horse’s personality, vitals and overall well-being when the horse is well.   This is perhaps your horse’s best defense because when you know what your horse’s normal behavior and health is you will spot any change right away.  This point shouldn’t be over-looked.  How fast you spot a situation determines how fast action is taken.

So when it comes to allergies in horses, this tidbit of information– knowing your horse - is no less valuable. 

What are some of the culprits causing allergies in horses?  Well there are a wide range of answers to that question and finding them may get you frustrated.  Keep your thinking cap on and keep investigating.  Follow your vet’s instructions and suggestions and follow your own instincts.  

LIKELY CAUSES OF HORSE ALLERGIES:

Injection/shot – Horses may react to an injection of medication or of an immunization.

Pollen / Mold Spores – Particularly when there is a heightened amount of pollen in the air, such as during a dry spring, or after a relatively warm winter.

Dust – Sometimes there will more dust than is normal in a closed up barn, or when the weather has been dry.  Wind can stir up dust, causing more dust particles to be airborne. (This is also true with pollen and mold spores.)

SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIES IN HORSES:1

Coughing – typically – but not necessarily – a dry “door slamming” kind of cough.

Swelling/Welts – This can be a raised lump or lumps along the shoulders.  When there is an allergic reaction, for example, from a shot the shot-site may swell up.

Rubbing – You may find spots, such as the shoulders or an injection site, wherein your horse has rubbed the area to the point hair is missing and the spot may even be rubbed raw.

Drop in Emotion – A horse will just not seem to feel so well and may seem a bit depressed.

Poor Appetite – A horse may not be eating with quite the vigor it typically has.  The horse is still eating but not as attentively.

Watery Eyes and Nostrils.

Keep in mind a horse may display all, some of these symptoms.  As always the best way to know for sure and tackle what needs to be tackled is to contact your equine vet right away.  Don’t wait.  Our wonderful horses may be majestic and powerful but – as any horse person knows – they are fragile animals sometimes.  Listen to your horse and keep him/her happy and well!

TREATMENT:

Water Down / Soak Hay – This will likely be one of the first things your vet will advise you to do.  You will not have to soak the hay long.  Some vets will suggest you simply wet the hay down completely.  This one action will go a long way to providing your horse relief by putting a quick stop to pollen and dust that may be in the hay from being airborne.

Get Rid of Dust – Don’t laugh!  Of course we cannot get rid of ALL the dust in a barn or a pasture, but we can make quite a difference in doing what we can to cut down as much dust as realistically possible.  Water down the paddock area with a sprinkler.  Use a wet/dry vacuum to get rid of the worst of the dust in the barn and particularly in the horse’s stall.

R&R – Don’t work your horse while his/her airways are healing.  Give your horse some “breathing time” allowing any cough or other symptoms to clear up.  If you, yourself, have allergies or asthma this will be very real to you – being allowed to rest and breathe easier!  It’s better to wait patiently than to force your horse into work before the allergy symptoms have cleared up.

Holistic Methods – Because the side effects of steroids and other medications can be disconcerting. To avoid these you may want to utilize homeopathy, herbs, topicals and/or acupuncture.2  Just make sure your horse is not allergic to any of these!

Medications – There are various medications that are helpful, such as steroids, but these should be administered short-term.  Vets may prescribe Prednisolone or Fluticasone in acute cases. It is best to discuss these in great detail with your vet. 

Develop a Long-Term Strategy.  For example, you can look into establishing “immunotherapy”3 which can gradually build up your horse’s immunity.

Make sure you understand not only the costs involved, but the possible side effects as well.  If you can help your horse through this without medication the horse will be better off I think.  Know when medication is necessary and if it is make sure you commit to using it as directed.

 Citation Bibliography:

1 “Horse Allergies:
Symptoms, Common Causes & Treatments of an Equine Allergy” Copyright © 2011. American Horse Rider & Horses and Horse Information. Spring 1995 http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/0395allergy.shtml

2 “Allergies in Horses” Harman, DVM, Joyce. ©Holistic Horse Inc. 84 Irish Meeting House Road, Perkasie, PA 18944 215-249-1965. http://www.holistichorse.com/Alternative-Action-/-Acupuncture/allergies-in-horses.html

3 “Testing & Treatment.” Bio-Medical Services. ©Copyright 2005-2010 Bio-Medical Services, Inc http://www.bmslab.com/index.php?pid=255