Ride'm cowboy!!!!!!!!! -- Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up. Karen Carter Class of '74 -------------- Original message -------------- From: Kathy Du Bois <[log in to unmask]> > There is a guy here in Maine that has one of these horses. I guess > that he really likes it. It's novel enough so that he attracts a lot > of attention. Personally, I think that this would be perfect for > Phil. He already has the hat and boots. the horse would complete > the picture. GRIN! > Kathy > > > At 10:23 PM 8/16/2006, you wrote: > >Hi guys! > > > >This is especially for Phil, as you've told me you'd rather have a > >horse as guide than a dog. Thought you might like to read this. > > > >Sharon > > > > Training Miniature Horses as Guide Animals > > > > In 1999, Janet and Don Burleson completed a successful feasibility > > study with miniature horses as assistance animals for the visually > > disabled. Janet is a retired professional horse trainer with over 30 > > years of full-time horse training experience and an extensive record > > of success in training performance horses. > > > > While Don and Janet Burleson only intended to develop a training > > program, they were overwhelmed with requests from blind horse lovers > > asking for a trained Guide Horse. Although she was confident in her > > skills as a retired professional horse trainer, Janet Burleson needed > > to learn what a guide animal must know in order to keep their handler > > safe. > > > > The initial training has shown great promise, and two tiny Guide > > Horses have already been trained to guide blind people in public. The > > prototype, a 14 year-old dwarf mare horse named Twinkie, has > > successfully guided blind people in a host of environments, including > > shopping malls and congested urban areas with heavy traffic. Nine > > other horses are currently undergoing training, and the Guide Horse > > Foundation also has a substantial waiting list of blind people who > > have applied for a Guide Horse. > > > > Once the Guide Horse Foundation announced the result of their > > feasibility study, the ability of horses to guide the blind was > > confirmed from a number of independent sources. We received numerous > > responses from blind people who ride horses, both in competitions and > > on trails, and they confirmed our findings that the horse is a capable > > guide. One blind woman stated that she sometimes uses her full-sized > > horse as her Guide Horse. She says that her horse makes allowances for > > her needs and walks beside her for miles in the woods, gently nudging > > her whenever she strays from the trail. > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > > Horse Intelligence Testing > > > > All candidate horses for the Guide Horse program are given a [46]field > > intelligence test prior to acceptance into the Guide Horse program. > > Guide Horse training is mentally demanding on the horse, and the Guide > > Horse Foundation only accepts horses that demonstrate the cognitive > > ability to successfully complete the training program. > > > > Horse Training Theory > > > > While horses do not possess complex reasoning skills, miniature horses > > are quite intelligent and excel at tasks that require long-term memory > > skills. There is been a great deal of research into the cognitive > > psychology of horses, most notably by the Equine Research Foundation > > of Horse Learning and Behavior. They have done extensive clinical > > research on horse intelligence and are most noted for proving the > > theorem that a horses ability to learn is directly proportional to > > their prior learning. In other words, the more a horse learns, the > > greater their capacity for future learning. Noted animal learning > > expert, Professor Emeritus [48]Frank A. Logan also provides comments > > regarding [49]horse learning. > > > > The Guide Horse training approach > > > > Training any assistance animal requires an in-depth understanding of > > animal behavior. Because equine behavior is generic to all horse > > breeds, any professional horse trainer can start the initial training > > of the assistance horse, teaching it to accept the harness, and > > start/stop on command. Advanced training involves training the horse > > not to react to environmental distractions, to avoid obstacles and to > > recognize all potential dangers. The idea is to create a team, person > > and horse, working together and understanding one another. > > > > While no formal documentation exists for training guide horses, our > > trainers use the horse training methods and techniques developed from > > a variety of sources. Don and Janet employ some techniques developed > > by [50]John Lyons, a world-renowned horse trainer. Don and Janet also > > rely on the basic principles of operant conditioning, and apply the > > animal training concepts originally described by [51]B. F. Skinner, > > the famous behavioral psychologist. > > > > Even though horse training is vastly different from dog training, the > > Guide Horse Foundation worked closely with guide dog trainers, > > orientation and mobility specialists and experienced guide dog users > > to understand what a guide animal needs to know to keep their handler > > safe at all times. The Guide Horse Foundation also performed > > exhaustive research, studying all available training methods and > > techniques from the major guide dog training schools throughout the > > world. > > > > Guide Horse Training involves the following areas of training: > > > > - Basic Lead Training - This involves training the Guide Horse to move > > forward at an appropriate speed and respond to verbal commands. The > > Guide Horse is also trained to negotiate everyday obstacles, and they > > learn to enter escalators, elevators, climb stairs, and lie down on > > command. > > > > - Voice Command Recognition - The guide horse is trained to respond to > > 23 voice commands, enabling the handler to direct the guide in any > > circumstance. > > > > - Stationary Obstacle Avoidance - A guide horse must be able to alert > > the handler to obstacles in their path. Miniature horses avoid > > obstacles quite naturally, and only need to be taught that the handler > > is an appendage of themselves. In this way, the horse is taught to > > avoid low overheads and other stationary obstacles. The horse must be > > able to navigate sidewalks and streets, avoiding all obstacles, > > including any protrusions that may injure its handler. The Guide > > Horses must also be able to ignore all distractions while guiding, and > > all Guide Horses are thoroughly trained and tested to ensure that they > > will not "spook and run" while guiding. > > > > - Moving Obstacle Avoidance - This phase of training requires the > > Guide Horse to avoid any moving obstacles that threaten to impede > > their path. These obstacles include pedestrians, cyclists, motor > > vehicles, and any moving object that may impede the progress of the > > handler. This is one of the most important areas of guide training > > and this training requires the Guide Horses to demonstrate absolute > > proficiency before graduation. > > > > - Surface Elevation Change Recognition - This phase of training > > requires the Guide Horse to recognize and signal the handler upon > > approaching any change in surface elevation, including ramps, steps, > > stairs and curbs. This involves training the Guide Horse to signal > > the handler and pause upon reaching any steps or curbs, thus signaling > > the handler that a step-up of step-down will be required. Because the > > Guide Horse walks two paces ahead of the handler, the handler learns > > to accurately time the point at which the step begins. > > > > - [52]Housebreaking - Despite common belief, horses do possess bladder > > control, and many horses develop the habit of "going" only in a > > specific area. For excursions under 6 hours, the guide horse can be > > relied upon to maintain bladder control. Just as dog owners are > > required to utilize pooper-scoopers, Guide Horses on long excursions > > can be fitted with a plastic lined poo-bag that catches droppings and > > allows for easy disposal. > > > > - Intelligent Disobedience - The Guide Horse is trained to disregard > > any commands from their handler that would be unsafe for either the > > Guide Horse or the Handler. This is the phase of training where the > > horse is taught to rely on their judgment to keep their owner safe at > > all times. > > The Handler training approach > > > > When candidates are evaluated for acceptance into the Guide Horse > > program they must demonstrate proficiency with basic orientation and > > mobility skills. While the vast majority of the candidates are > > experienced guide dog or cane users, we require all candidates to > > undergo basic training to ensure their ability to use their Guide > > Horse. > > > > Only certified handlers are allowed to use a Guide Horse, even in > > training situations. The handler training phase includes the > > following phases and activities: > > > > Phase I: Candidate Evaluation > > > > Prior to acceptance into the Guide Horse program, all candidates are > > evaluated for their orientation and mobility skills. > > > > - The Juno Walk - All candidates are evaluated for their ability to > > use a guide animal by walking with an artificial Guide Horse named > > Juno. The candidates are evaluated to ensure that they will be able > > to communicate with a guide animal before being allowed to begin > > training with a live Guide Horse. > > > > - Orientation and Mobility Skills - The Guide Horse Foundation > > requires all candidates to attend certified orientation and mobility > > courses to ensure that each candidate possesses basic orientation > > skills. > > > > Phase II: Introductory Training > > > > During this phase the candidate attends classroom training and basic > > lead training. > > > > - Animal Care Training - All candidates will attended lectures by a > > licensed equine Veterinarian, a horse care specialist and a farrier to > > completely understand the proper care, feeding grooming and housing > > for their Guide Horse. > > > > - Orientation and Mobility Refresher Training - The Guide Horse > > Foundation hires certified orientation and mobility trainers to ensure > > that each candidate can demonstrate basic orientation skills. > > > > - Basic Lead Training - All candidates are evaluated for their ability > > to effectively communicate with a guide animal. The candidates learn > > the 23 voice commands and are tested to ensure that they understand > > how signals are communicated through the harness and reins before > > being allowed to begin training with a live Guide Horse. > > > > Upon passing the testing for this phase, the candidate becomes > > certified as an apprentice handler, and they are allowed to use a live > > Guide Horse in a training setting. > > > > Phase III: Advanced Training > > > > This phase involves team selection and advanced training of the new > > Guide team. > > > > - Team Selection - Following basic training, the apprentice handlers > > are given the opportunity to work as a team with several Guide > > Horses. While each Guide horse is multi-gated, there are still > > variations in "feel", speed, pressure and personality between Guide > > Horses. The team selection process relies on the evaluation of the > > apprentice handler and the trainer, and both the apprentice handler > > and trainer work toward selecting the best-fit team in terms of > > disposition, personality and performance. At the end of this phase the > > apprentice handler will have chosen a suitable Guide Horse. > > > > - Team Training - This is the final phase of training and focuses on > > the training of the candidate and horse as a team. During this phase > > the team demonstrates proficiency with the 23 voice commands and > > learns to read signals from the Guide Horse via changes to rein and > > handle pressure. Once bonded, the team undergoes extensive training, > > especially in the areas of street crossing and intelligent > > disobedience. The team must demonstrate absolute proficiency at > > potentially dangerous situations such as street crossings before > > graduating from this phase of training. The apprentice handler is also > > taught to maintain the proficiency of the Guide to ensure that > > training does not degrade after delivery. > > > > Phase IV: Delivery and certification of the team > > > > Only after the successful completion of all areas of training is the > > apprentice handler graduated to "handler" status, and the handler and > > the Guide Horse are then certified as a team by the Guide Horse > > Foundation. > > > > - Home Area Training - The final stage of training involves traveling > > with the handler to their home. The team is then evaluated on their > > home turf and the trainer ensures that the new tram is able to > > negotiate all of the regular travels for the team. > > > > - Follow-up visits - Following delivery of the team, the trainer > > conducts periodic follow-ups to make sure that the team continues to > > be safe and effective. If the handler experiences any problem, the > > handler may visit the team for additional on-site training. > > > > [53]Guides [54]Training [55]Press [56]Photos [57]News [58]Apply > > [59]FAQ [60]Wishes [61]Contact [62]Home > > > > Helping Hooves > > Training Miniature Horses as Guide Animals for the Blind > > > > Janet Burleson > > Contains over 100 all-color photo's! > > Retail Price $27.95 / #20.75 > > > > - Help the Guide Horse Foundation give free Guides > > - Author royalties benefit the Guide Horse Foundation > > > > Only $19.95 > > > > The Guide Horse Foundation has the utmost respect for The Seeing Eye. > > and their seventy-two years of outstanding work with assistance > > animals for the blind. Even though the press often calls our horses > > "seeing eye horses", please note that The Guide Horse Foundation is > > not affiliated with or sanctioned by the Seeing-Eye. or any of the > > Guide Dog training organizations. Seeing-Eye. is a registered > > trademark of the Seeing-Eye, Inc. > > > >References > > > > Visible links > > 1. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/text_only_master.htm > >2. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/index.htm > >3. > >http://www.rampant-books.com/book_2004_2_helping_hooves.htm > >4. form field = text entry field > > 5. form field = submit button > > 6. form field = text entry field > > 7. form field = submit button > > 8. form field = radio button > > 9. form field = radio button > > 10. form field = radio button > > 11. form field = image-submit button > > 12. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/ > >13. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/training_seminars_clinics_classes.htm > >14. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/contact.htm > >15. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/faq.htm > >16. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/training.htm > >17. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/photo_page.htm > >18. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/misconceptions.htm > >19. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/news_events.htm > >20. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/related.htm > >21. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/application.htm > >22. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/wishes.htm > >23. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/DOJ.htm > >24. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/films.htm > >25. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/law_n_news.htm > >26. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/law_n_news.htm > >27. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/book.htm > >28. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/pennys_ponies.htm > >29. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/guide_horse_candidates_menu.htm > >30. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/mini_horse_rescue.htm > >31. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/miniature_horse_adoption.htm > >32. > >http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?o=1&l=as1&f=ifr&t=rampanttechpr-20&dev-t=D68HUNXKLHS > 4J&p=8&asins=0974448605&IS2=1&IS2=1<1=_blank > >33. LYNXIMGMAP:http://www.guidehorse.org/training.htm#boxmap-p8 > > 34. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/lisa.htm > >35. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/lisa.htm > >36. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/photo_lesser.htm > >37. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/photo_lesser.htm > >38. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/pennys_pony.htm > >39. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/photo_lesser.htm > >40. > >http://www.ucomics.com/nonsequitur/ > >41. > >http://www.mini-horse.org/ > >42. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/mini_horse_rescue.htm > >43. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/pennys/menu_pennys_ponies.htm > >44. > >http://www.dba-oracle.com/grand_turk_hotels/t_grand_turk_hotels.htm > >45. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/press.htm > >46. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/intellig.htm > >47. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/intellig.htm > >48. > >http://www.unm.edu/~quadl/ > >49. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/logan.htm > >50. > >http://www.johnlyons.com/ > >51. > >http://www.sntp.net/behaviorism/skinner.htm > >52. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/housebreaking.htm > >53. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/reasons.htm > >54. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/training.htm > >55. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/press.htm > >56. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/photo_page.htm > >57. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/news_events.htm > >58. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/application.htm > >59. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/faq.htm > >60. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/wishes.htm > >61. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/contact.htm > >62. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/index.htm > >63. > >http://rampant.cc/cart/catalog/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=33 > &osCsid=44b0b51dead5fc7b20d1f2af5e1cdce4 > > > >Hidden links: > > 64. > >http://www.burleson-arabians.com/ > >65. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/misconceptions.htm > >66. > >http://www.guidehorse.org/contact.htm