As the trainer of several service horses, including this one, I can assure you that this horse gets lots of time to just be a horse. This is a 9 minute video focused on the horses competent ability as a working service animal. He gets to play with other horses in a field and run, kick, play, roll, swim, and stand around and doze or graze. His special needs specific to his species are taken care of. He is happy to do his ‘job’ when the time comes because he has a healthy balance in his life between work and off work time. Those of you who made negative comments are those of you who make judgement calls and caustic comments rather than ask sincere questions addressing your concerns regarding the welfare of the horse and it’s mental health and quality of life please keep reading. If a horse (or human) is not happy with their job they express it somehow. Therefore, a good trainer or a good caregiver goes above and beyond to make sure that the horse, is temperamentally suited to the tasks required and is is taught in a spirit of cooperation rather than compliance. The horse and handler are a team. They must be a team to be successful. Together they can accomplish what neither could do alone. Teamwork requires cooperation between two or more, as opposed to compliance, which is doing what you are expected to do, without a say so as to whether you want to or not. It is a dictatorship and has no place in this type of training. Please consider examples of this in your life and the world around you. Please ask questions, learn something new, educate yourself and be open to new ideas and concepts rather than making negative judgement calls based on assumptions rather than reality. Thank so many of you for the likes and shares and questions!
DonnaScarpa I am a now disabled equestrian. I’m on my third service dog. My BFF recently asked why I hadn’t considered a service horse given my strong connection to horses. My current dog is a little over 4 (a lab) so I’m starting to do some research. I owner trained my first 3 service dogs and also owner trained my palomino Morgan mare. Do you have any suggestions on where I might start to gather info and how to aptitude test a possible service horse vs a service dog? Thanks in advance. I’m very impressed with Tonka and the bond he has with his handler and partner.
I have a miniature horse that I take to nursing homes and to mentally disabled homes. His name is Cimarron and he seems to really feel what's going on around him. He played peek a boo with a child that was afraid, he calms the elderly and helps with their memory too. He amazes me all the time and seems to know how to approach the person. one time we were visiting a home and he ran past a lady. I was confused at his behavior and watched him. he turned around behind her chair and peeked around and poked her on her arm. She laughed and started to talk. Cimarron kept up his play and then came around the chair and kissed her on her cheek. This person will bite and eat herself if approached from the front. She can't handle it and Cimarron felt that. These little horses seem to know what needs done and does it. They share Gods love and help people to open up again. I'm honored to take him and be able to watch God work through him. They are amazing animals!
I seriously considered a mini horse for my service animal. I've been around horses my entire life though and when weighing the costs, a dog was simply more feasible for me. Tonka is amazing!
Very nice video and educational for the "horsie" and "non-horsie" folks. I bought my first mini a couple years ago and she is just awesome! She's a bit too friendly to be a service animal but she can do anything! I trained her drive, which she loves. I got invited to bring her you a child's birthday party and with 6 or 7 young kids running around, screaming, and popping balloons, she was a little trooper and never jumped once. Minis RULE!
What a sweet story! Rita, I am SO glad that you were able to find Tonka, and pair up with him... It always warms my heart to see a successful pairing of a service animal and handler. It is a beautiful thing. Tonka reminded me so much of my Sophie dog, at the end, playing in the water and the sand... That is just like Sophie, she loves to roll in the sand, right after I've gotten her all washed off in the water, LOL... =) My first thought when I saw Tonka all dressed up and ready to go out was OMG. I can ONLY imagine how hard it must be for you going out and about with him. I know how many people I get yelling at me in the store, kids and such, yelling, "MOMMY IT'S A DOG!!!" and people coming up to me wanting to pet my dog and kids trying to RIDE my dog and pulling her tail and doing things to my dog, throwing things at her, and poking her and all sorts of stuff, I can only IMAGINE how much worse it's got to be with a miniature horse!!! Kids must try to ride him ALL the TIME! And try and pet him, and pull his tail, and all sorts of stuff, and I can only imagine people must be constantly yelling comments at you. Ugh. I'm so sorry. Or, it could be that people are so shocked that they just stay away and shut up??? I'm not sure. It could be a blessing or a curse... LOL I'm curious which it is. I know that protecting my dog is one of my main jobs when we are out and about. It must be harder for you, having mobility issues (I am lucky, I don't have physical issues - I have diabetes) so I am able to move quickly, and push little kids away from my dog when they attack my dog. But for you, if someone does attack your horse, you can't really do much about it. It must be difficult. I would be interested in your perspective on these issues.
This mini is so sweet. He probably gets enough exercise and social interaction while out on the town, but I wonder if he ever misses being around other horses? And his owner should never leave the lead role on when she lets the horse run on his own - he could seriously injure himself by tripping on it, getting it caught on something (especially in the water), and rolling on the ground, he could've get tangled in it. He is so helpful to his owner, and it is wonderful that she can have her life without constantly being afraid to go anywhere.
Very well-trained service animal. I would love to see more of its jobs. I am a service dog handler and one of the things I liked in your video was the fact that your pony was invisible to many people. That is the way it should be with both service dog animals. You use yours because you really need it and not for show. What a great partner you have. I pray you have many more years with it.
Very interesting! Thank you for sharing the information. I read about service horses in my compliance training today. So of course I have to stop the training and look up service mini-horses! Cute and sweet.
You could train a similar sized dog to do this, but a mini horse would be much cheaper to feed. Vet bills would probably be cheaper too. Horses and donkeys for the most part are very laid back and intelligent animals. Tonka sure has a special talent :)
+Kaiser Frost I think a small pony like this might be more suitable in that they have the weight and back strength to be a physical support, in cases like this where the handler may have to physically lean on the animal to remain balanced.With tall dogs they tend to get quite slight or potentially suffer from joint issues as they get taller, so might not be as suitable :)
Skylarkien Yeah, I definitely can see that. Equines also live longer than dogs, especially big dogs which have shortened lifespans. I wonder if there are service donkeys.
Kaiser Frost ~ This is for all who think that a mini horse would be cheaper than a dog... Please keep in mind that a miniature horse is still a horse and needs the same care. They are not cheaper than a dog as their nutritional and vet care general cost more. They will also have to see the farrier (hoof specialist) and dentist regularly. I've been a horse owner for over 30+ years and I feel it's important that individuals be informed. A miniature horse requires the care of a large animal vet and that visit is generally more as it will be a house call. Someone can bring a dog to a vet clinic. Please also keep in mind that this animal needs room to simply be horse... after all it still is a horse. I'm sure that I'll get backlash from someone for what I've said, if so... go for it! I wanted to offer additional information.
woah I want one. I have a sidit I will train for mobility...I am a horse lover...It wouldn't work cause I live in an apartment but still this is so cool. I used to own two horses. I was really well back then :)
It makes sense for a service pony, they live so much longer than dogs, and for a brace and mobility, these guys can take much more weight than a dog. It concerns me when I see a large or tall person using a medium dog as a mobility dog.
Minis were bred to be playthings by the old Nobility. They were probably used in mines as well due to their tiny size. I would not even put 25% weight on my mini; they are not built to pack much of a load. However, they are strong enough to pull an average sized adult in a cart and could certainly carry 2 small oxygen tanks. This mini is like mine: on the large side. I think the smaller ones might work a bit better because the handler appears to have to walk to the side a bit. But maybe not. T
Thank you for your reply. As hard as it is for me to imagine having a Mobility horse, it seems that the more I look into it, the more it's the better answer for me. A large trained dog's service years are usually about 6. A miniature horse is so much longer. They can help with the oxygen & my balance. It seems too good to be true. THANK YOU!
This is exactly what I need. How do I find one? I have severe vertigo and fall down a lot. I tried to get a dog but was told after I'd already waited a year for him that he wasn't able to help me. Now a year later, I'm back to square one, and this little guy seems like just exactly what I need. Can anyone help me find one? I live in Florida. Thank you.
Try googling miniature horse service associations near you. If you are unable to find one, they you can legally train your own, you might want some help from a horse trainer though.
I'm very much against using miniature horses as service animals. Although they are small they are still horses and need exercise and the companionship of other horses. I have have no problem with miniatures visiting nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and my minis have been to all three, but after the outings they go home to run and play with their equine friends, and be horses. With the type of confinement involved as service animals I would wonder about health issues such as ulcers and colic.
Mini horses are more common in rural and suburban homes and with horse people who have other horses. I bet most service horses DO get to hang out in a herd and play in a field. Keep in mind disabled people go out less often than others. Most of them aren't going to be out and about all day every day-the least natural it gets for them would be if their owner took them on vacation to say disneyland. But in the average day to day routine I'm sure the horses spend most of their time outside, and likely with other horses or livestock.
Donna, I found more videos on your service horse and am so excited to watch them. I have a question. It is hard enough to keep a dog odor free all the time. How do you keep your horse from having an offensive odor in public?
DonnaScarpa Thanks Donna. I had no idea how much work it might be for a service pony. You sure have great pal there. If I stop thinking of it as a horse and just look at the actual size compared to my service dog, he really isn’t that big. I think the word “horse” just conjures up pictures of a larger animal. I hope you will keep posting more of the task your horse does.
Horses have a naturally sweet & pleasant order. They do not have offensive orders. Ask anyone who has ever been around a horse, they smell really good always.
I was in coma for three months . I have a hybree shepard wolf and akita certified service dog. However, Stella is eight. she has maybe 4 years. When I was 10-23 I was a TOP hunter jumper rider. I have handled , or tyhey handled me 2,4000 percherons I know horses.i will never get better. ok but can i have a pal i know ? f
I have searched Mobility miniature horses many times and just saw this. THANKS! I'm going to email Tiny Trotters. My question is about the weight a mini-horse can handle as well as offering support for mobility. My mobility issue is vertigo and lack of balance related. I also use oxygen 24/7. My question is related to the use of oxygen. Do you think the horse could carry two o2 tanks that weigh about 15 pounds each while supporting my balance?
I think that it might be safer to wear a small backpack, or a fanny pack to use as a purse, than hook it on the opposite side of the horse. It is so vulnerable for purse snatchers.
+Clodagh Callaghan They look like horse boots designed to look like converse shoes. Some horses really do need to wear boots, especially if they are walking on concrete a lot and as you can see Tonka is walking around on hard floors and concrete.
I can't even sit a saddle on a saddle rack anymore or go to horse shows, let alone ride. If only I could replace my walker / cane with one of these. I'd be the happiest human in the whole wide world. But people in my income bracket don't get help like that, alas.
Try contacting Companion Canines for Independence www.cci.org/ They are a orgainizarion that provieds service dogs free of charge Or train your own service dog or service miniature horse
This is a service animal this is the life it know, fields other horses are not in this animals nature it's not a normal horse so it is illogical to see it as if it was. This animal is domesticated not a wild horse. This animal is no more than a service "dog". Leave it to the ignorant to make a good situation that helps someone that gives someone a pet to bond and love a pet that has a healthy life, a bad thing. Because the ignorant makes the animal out to not be happy, well what do you know about how it feels. If you want to get technical humans should not have pets they should not ride horses they should not keep dogs or cats or fish, it's not natural to the animal. The animal might not be happy.... It should instead be in the wild where it has to find it's food, where it has to find warmth, it's own perfection, where it can be killed by a predator. That little horse has a more healthier life than most horses. It gets exercise, it not idle, it has a bond with a human that loves and cares for it as their pet and service animal. They probably have a hard big enough for him to go out and graze and run. But he has a job to his human. It's wrong to see this animal as an ordinary horse with ordinary circumstances with an ordinary life. You have to see the animal with life it know, and the life it knows isn't a bad life, the life it knows, knows love and caring, the life it knows gives it a purpose more than a pathetic animal that with out this life would have no value, just as any other animal. Hopefully the idiots commenting their disease of ignorance doesn't have any pets of their own, because then their pathetic argument would invalid.
Emerald Snow ~ Great response! I made mine on the needs of a horse in terms of care. What you said are so accurate and that these animals and "pets" are domesticated. Domesticated and trained animals are happy individual just as we are when in a different environment. It's all they and we know... it's our normal life.
I mean, it's still a horse, regardless. I think having pets and working animals is great, but you do need to provide for their every need. I don't have any issues with it, but as a horse owner I don't really like the idea of a horse not having access to pasture and a herd. Maybe having another horse buddy and a small pasture for when he's not working would be beneficial to him. :)
Emerald Snow it's a nice idea but it's still a horse and horses are herd animals. I have miniatures and I just don't think this is fair to them, as with large horses they need to be outside with the company of their own kind. Visiting nursing homes, hospitals and schools is fine and we have done that.
she coulda brushed his tail out. great video, but the shavings in his tail bothered me so much i just wanted to reach thru the screen and pick the pieces out
This would give immediate problems here because it´s not allowed to have a pony or miniature horse in a normal car, no matter what its job is. Also I have problems with the way the pony is kept, in a small area, no grass. But maybe they have another small piece of land so the horse can graze? I like the idea though.
+Saartje05 The Americans with disabilities act guidelines trump state and local laws... the same ADA rules that apply to guide dogs, apply to mini horses. The reason mini horses were allowed, is because dogs are too short to provide stability help to those with balance issues... if someone with balance issues has to bend over to lean on a dog, they might fall over. Mini horse are taught to lay down, with feet tucked under in the back seat of a vehicle... they are also taught to sit on the back seat of a car like a human, unlike dogs, their feet reach the floor, and they rarely fall over. mini horses have different needs than regular horses... they don't need as much space. their feet can crack or rot if kept on dirt/mud .... they spend most of the day assisting their human, so they spend very little time in their enclosure. It can take up to four years after the disabled person makes the request for an assistance animal, until they actually get the animal... part of the process is that the disabled person must spend an intensive month long course at the training facility, learning how to work with the horse, as well as caring for the horse.... These are NOT pets... they are working animals.
+Saartje05 Where does it say you can't take a miniature horse in a car? And remember, there's hay and special supplements. No different than feeding a dog it's special food instead of having a place to hunt and kill it's food. Domestic animals are not wild animals.
Cool. But transporting a horse, no matter how small, in a normal car isn´t allowed here. For me it wouldn´t be a problem, but that´s the law here. It would be cool if they´d using miniature horses or shetland for this more. So many over here. They´re cheap and have a long life.
It is illegal in many states, sure! But, even if it is illegal in her state (women in video,) they would still have to allow the pony to go with her because of her needs for it. No, people can't just travel them in their cars just because most of the time they want to show off, "hey, look at me! I have a horse into car!" But like I said, they WOULD have to allow it for someone like this. It is cruel and illegal for them not to let a person have what they need. Umm, so why yes, they would allow it if it is needed for a guide or any help, but no, they probably wouldn't allow you to just walk around with a mini, that is of course, depending on the town/state! Hope this helps you understand because I kind of got the wrong idea about your comment :)
You´re allowed to walk around with a pony, that´s not the problem, but I´m sure they wouldn´t allow one to be transported in a normal car. Maybe a small van, but I´m sure here they wouldn´t make exceptions. Never seen a ´help´ pony like that here anyway. Still, it would be cool. They live a lot longer than a dog.
N'importe quoi. Je suis d'accord que certaines personnes ont besoins d'assistance, mais un poney reste un animal sauvage, ce n'est pas un chien, il ne sera pas heureux dans un magasin ou dans le métro ...
A pony isn't a wild animal, they wouldn't even survive in the wild, so that's not the issue. I do wonder if it's happy though, without being able to graze. Also, a horse or pony in a car, or cable cart. I don't know..
NO offence but I dont like seeing any animal being used to this kind of stuff. Does that pony get to go to a large field, does he/she get enough movement?? I can see that person is moving extremely slow, its not gonna keep the pony in shape.
your sad ass has no clue about what horses like to do for their living. its not a fucking house pet, even if its the size of a dog. dont respond if you dont know shit
Gone Bad You don't know what horses like to do either evidently. Certainly not being exploited for horse shows. I'm sure this horse gets to run around.
some people (especially stroke victims) cannot use walkers, also, due to mental impairment after a stroke, having an animal keep a patient from walking into the road at the wrong time (something these animals are taught) is extremely beneficial to the service animal
As the trainer of several service horses, including this one, I can assure you that this horse gets lots of time to just be a horse. This is a 9 minute video focused on the horses competent ability as a working service animal. He gets to play with other horses in a field and run, kick, play, roll, swim, and stand around and doze or graze. His special needs specific to his species are taken care of. He is happy to do his ‘job’ when the time comes because he has a healthy balance in his life between work and off work time. Those of you who made negative comments are those of you who make judgement calls and caustic comments rather than ask sincere questions addressing your concerns regarding the welfare of the horse and it’s mental health and quality of life please keep reading.
If a horse (or human) is not happy with their job they express it somehow. Therefore, a good trainer or a good caregiver goes above and beyond to make sure that the horse, is temperamentally suited to the tasks required and is is taught in a spirit of cooperation rather than compliance.
The horse and handler are a team. They must be a team to be successful. Together they can accomplish what neither could do alone.
Teamwork requires cooperation between two or more, as opposed to compliance, which is doing what you are expected to do, without a say so as to whether you want to or not. It is a dictatorship and has no place in this type of training. Please consider examples of this in your life and the world around you.
Please ask questions, learn something new, educate yourself and be open to new ideas and concepts rather than making negative judgement calls based on assumptions rather than reality.
Thank so many of you for the likes and shares and questions!
Did you train Tonka? Or do you know who did?
DonnaScarpa I am a now disabled equestrian. I’m on my third service dog. My BFF recently asked why I hadn’t considered a service horse given my strong connection to horses. My current dog is a little over 4 (a lab) so I’m starting to do some research. I owner trained my first 3 service dogs and also owner trained my palomino Morgan mare. Do you have any suggestions on where I might start to gather info and how to aptitude test a possible service horse vs a service dog? Thanks in advance.
I’m very impressed with Tonka and the bond he has with his handler and partner.
Yes, I trained Tonka
I have a miniature horse that I take to nursing homes and to mentally disabled homes. His name is Cimarron and he seems to really feel what's going on around him. He played peek a boo with a child that was afraid, he calms the elderly and helps with their memory too. He amazes me all the time and seems to know how to approach the person. one time we were visiting a home and he ran past a lady. I was confused at his behavior and watched him. he turned around behind her chair and peeked around and poked her on her arm. She laughed and started to talk. Cimarron kept up his play and then came around the chair and kissed her on her cheek. This person will bite and eat herself if approached from the front. She can't handle it and Cimarron felt that. These little horses seem to know what needs done and does it. They share Gods love and help people to open up again. I'm honored to take him and be able to watch God work through him. They are amazing animals!
I seriously considered a mini horse for my service animal. I've been around horses my entire life though and when weighing the costs, a dog was simply more feasible for me. Tonka is amazing!
Tonka's shoes! They are SO CUTE!
Brilliant. I have a service dog for seizures and I had never seen a service horse at work. Thank you so much for your video.
Its amazing what you can train animals to do ❤️ and i thought those little horse shoes where adorable
Abby Shultz jncngk
What a wonderful little horse! This gives me hope to stay out of a chair longer when I age and lose my balance.
What a precious little fella.
Very nice video and educational for the "horsie" and "non-horsie" folks. I bought my first mini a couple years ago and she is just awesome! She's a bit too friendly to be a service animal but she can do anything! I trained her drive, which she loves. I got invited to bring her you a child's birthday party and with 6 or 7 young kids running around, screaming, and popping balloons, she was a little trooper and never jumped once. Minis RULE!
What a sweet story! Rita, I am SO glad that you were able to find Tonka, and pair up with him... It always warms my heart to see a successful pairing of a service animal and handler. It is a beautiful thing. Tonka reminded me so much of my Sophie dog, at the end, playing in the water and the sand... That is just like Sophie, she loves to roll in the sand, right after I've gotten her all washed off in the water, LOL... =) My first thought when I saw Tonka all dressed up and ready to go out was OMG. I can ONLY imagine how hard it must be for you going out and about with him. I know how many people I get yelling at me in the store, kids and such, yelling, "MOMMY IT'S A DOG!!!" and people coming up to me wanting to pet my dog and kids trying to RIDE my dog and pulling her tail and doing things to my dog, throwing things at her, and poking her and all sorts of stuff, I can only IMAGINE how much worse it's got to be with a miniature horse!!! Kids must try to ride him ALL the TIME! And try and pet him, and pull his tail, and all sorts of stuff, and I can only imagine people must be constantly yelling comments at you. Ugh. I'm so sorry. Or, it could be that people are so shocked that they just stay away and shut up??? I'm not sure. It could be a blessing or a curse... LOL I'm curious which it is. I know that protecting my dog is one of my main jobs when we are out and about. It must be harder for you, having mobility issues (I am lucky, I don't have physical issues - I have diabetes) so I am able to move quickly, and push little kids away from my dog when they attack my dog. But for you, if someone does attack your horse, you can't really do much about it. It must be difficult. I would be interested in your perspective on these issues.
Hey, I saw you on that seizure video!
This mini is so sweet. He probably gets enough exercise and social interaction while out on the town, but I wonder if he ever misses being around other horses? And his owner should never leave the lead role on when she lets the horse run on his own - he could seriously injure himself by tripping on it, getting it caught on something (especially in the water), and rolling on the ground, he could've get tangled in it. He is so helpful to his owner, and it is wonderful that she can have her life without constantly being afraid to go anywhere.
*gotten
I am so glad I'm not the only one who noticed and had an issue with that lead rope. He did almost tangle himself during the clip even.
Very well-trained service animal. I would love to see more of its jobs. I am a service dog handler and one of the things I liked in your video was the fact that your pony was invisible to many people. That is the way it should be with both service dog animals. You use yours because you really need it and not for show. What a great partner you have. I pray you have many more years with it.
He is beautiful! Horses are so amazing!!!!! What a good boy!!!!!!!
What an amazing little pony!
Thank you for this...I'm a service dog trainer and partner (who has had horses) and it is really interesting to see how this works....amazing.
Very interesting! Thank you for sharing the information. I read about service horses in my compliance training today. So of course I have to stop the training and look up service mini-horses! Cute and sweet.
What a beautiful little horse. I love horses.
I love horses. I find this site amazing and wonderful.
Thank you for sharing. Great video. Nicely done.
You could train a similar sized dog to do this, but a mini horse would be much cheaper to feed. Vet bills would probably be cheaper too. Horses and donkeys for the most part are very laid back and intelligent animals. Tonka sure has a special talent :)
+Kaiser Frost I think part of the reason for a horse, is large dogs get back problems.
+Kaiser Frost I think a small pony like this might be more suitable in that they have the weight and back strength to be a physical support, in cases like this where the handler may have to physically lean on the animal to remain balanced.With tall dogs they tend to get quite slight or potentially suffer from joint issues as they get taller, so might not be as suitable :)
Skylarkien Yeah, I definitely can see that. Equines also live longer than dogs, especially big dogs which have shortened lifespans. I wonder if there are service donkeys.
Kaiser Frost ~ This is for all who think that a mini horse would be cheaper than a dog... Please keep in mind that a miniature horse is still a horse and needs the same care. They are not cheaper than a dog as their nutritional and vet care general cost more. They will also have to see the farrier (hoof specialist) and dentist regularly. I've been a horse owner for over 30+ years and I feel it's important that individuals be informed. A miniature horse requires the care of a large animal vet and that visit is generally more as it will be a house call. Someone can bring a dog to a vet clinic.
Please also keep in mind that this animal needs room to simply be horse... after all it still is a horse.
I'm sure that I'll get backlash from someone for what I've said, if so... go for it! I wanted to offer additional information.
awesome video! He looks like a great little horse. :)
cheers,
Mary
woah I want one. I have a sidit I will train for mobility...I am a horse lover...It wouldn't work cause I live in an apartment but still this is so cool. I used to own two horses. I was really well back then :)
MommyCassReborns I appreciate your comment! I have to ask about the typo though, what is a sidit
sdit service dog in training
What an amazing pony!
It makes sense for a service pony, they live so much longer than dogs, and for a brace and mobility, these guys can take much more weight than a dog. It concerns me when I see a large or tall person using a medium dog as a mobility dog.
Mi-a plăcut calul.
cute bundles of joy!
Such a sweetheart!
Such a sweet little horse....
love horses and, really love this video. i have a service dog.
Love it! I want on for my purse! My Gypsy paint was muscle building and a Natural anit-depressant.
Minis were bred to be playthings by the old Nobility. They were probably used in mines as well due to their tiny size. I would not even put 25% weight on my mini; they are not built to pack much of a load. However, they are strong enough to pull an average sized adult in a cart and could certainly carry 2 small oxygen tanks. This mini is like mine: on the large side. I think the smaller ones might work a bit better because the handler appears to have to walk to the side a bit. But maybe not. T
that is a smart and cool horse
Beautiful video
Tonka is beatiful
very cute pony
I have a service dog they help me a lot and he go to school with me
Way to go Tonka.
So cute!
He's a good pony :)
Cute!
Thank you for your reply. As hard as it is for me to imagine having a Mobility horse, it seems that the more I look into it, the more it's the better answer for me.
A large trained dog's service years are usually about 6. A miniature horse is so much longer. They can help with the oxygen & my balance. It seems too good to be true. THANK YOU!
This is exactly what I need. How do I find one? I have severe vertigo and fall down a lot. I tried to get a dog but was told after I'd already waited a year for him that he wasn't able to help me. Now a year later, I'm back to square one, and this little guy seems like just exactly what I need. Can anyone help me find one? I live in Florida. Thank you.
Try googling miniature horse service associations near you. If you are unable to find one, they you can legally train your own, you might want some help from a horse trainer though.
welcome he is cute, i couldn't teach mine that because he's a trick pony and jumps and does barrels with my nieces so i couldn't get him to do that
So cute 😱😍
Awesome
busy horse!
I'm very much against using miniature horses as service animals. Although they are small they are still horses and need exercise and the companionship of other horses. I have have no problem with miniatures visiting nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and my minis have been to all three, but after the outings they go home to run and play with their equine friends, and be horses. With the type of confinement involved as service animals I would wonder about health issues such as ulcers and colic.
Mini horses are more common in rural and suburban homes and with horse people who have other horses. I bet most service horses DO get to hang out in a herd and play in a field. Keep in mind disabled people go out less often than others. Most of them aren't going to be out and about all day every day-the least natural it gets for them would be if their owner took them on vacation to say disneyland. But in the average day to day routine I'm sure the horses spend most of their time outside, and likely with other horses or livestock.
im alergic to dogs so if i ever loose my sight ill have to get one of these to help me.
Sweet.
Is there anywhere or anything Tonka is too heavy or big to go? Will Tonka come when called?
Donna, I found more videos on your service horse and am so excited to watch them. I have a question. It is hard enough to keep a dog odor free all the time. How do you keep your horse from having an offensive odor in public?
Dixie Archer I groom and vacuum when bathing is not appropriate. Fresh clean blankets and bedding and pen.
DonnaScarpa Thanks Donna. I had no idea how much work it might be for a service pony. You sure have great pal there. If I stop thinking of it as a horse and just look at the actual size compared to my service dog, he really isn’t that big. I think the word “horse” just conjures up pictures of a larger animal. I hope you will keep posting more of the task your horse does.
Horses have a naturally sweet & pleasant order. They do not have offensive orders. Ask anyone who has ever been around a horse, they smell really good always.
I was in coma for three months . I have a hybree shepard wolf and akita certified service dog. However, Stella is eight. she has maybe 4 years. When I was 10-23 I was a TOP hunter jumper rider. I have handled , or tyhey handled me 2,4000 percherons I know horses.i will never get better. ok but can i have a pal i know ?
f
No such thing as a certified service dog. There's no service dog registry or cwrtification legally recognized in the us
I have searched Mobility miniature horses many times and just saw this. THANKS!
I'm going to email Tiny Trotters. My question is about the weight a mini-horse can handle as well as offering support for mobility. My mobility issue is vertigo and lack of balance related. I also use oxygen 24/7. My question is related to the use of oxygen. Do you think the horse could carry two o2 tanks that weigh about 15 pounds each while supporting my balance?
I think that it might be safer to wear a small backpack, or a fanny pack to use as a purse, than hook it on the opposite side of the horse. It is so vulnerable for purse snatchers.
cutie
yay tonka
The horse is wearing actual shoes
+Clodagh Callaghan They look like horse boots designed to look like converse shoes. Some horses really do need to wear boots, especially if they are walking on concrete a lot and as you can see Tonka is walking around on hard floors and concrete.
horse owners go one of three ways: build-a-bear sneakers, modify kids sneakers, or buy mini horse sneakers.
I can't even sit a saddle on a saddle rack anymore or go to horse shows, let alone ride. If only I could replace my walker / cane with one of these. I'd be the happiest human in the whole wide world. But people in my income bracket don't get help like that, alas.
you could always train your own service dog.
Try contacting Companion Canines for Independence www.cci.org/ They are a orgainizarion that provieds service dogs free of charge
Or train your own service dog or service miniature horse
I live in Portland Oregon but I can't find a website that has miniature horses as service animal can you help me ?
Leila Witherspoon
Try Facebook
I've been looking for a service pony just like this who do you call please
I need a pony like this for my disability can anyone help with any info
Yeah, it's not a pony. It is an American Miniature Horse.
but does this pony guard you
This is a service animal this is the life it know, fields other horses are not in this animals nature it's not a normal horse so it is illogical to see it as if it was. This animal is domesticated not a wild horse. This animal is no more than a service "dog". Leave it to the ignorant to make a good situation that helps someone that gives someone a pet to bond and love a pet that has a healthy life, a bad thing. Because the ignorant makes the animal out to not be happy, well what do you know about how it feels. If you want to get technical humans should not have pets they should not ride horses they should not keep dogs or cats or fish, it's not natural to the animal. The animal might not be happy.... It should instead be in the wild where it has to find it's food, where it has to find warmth, it's own perfection, where it can be killed by a predator. That little horse has a more healthier life than most horses. It gets exercise, it not idle, it has a bond with a human that loves and cares for it as their pet and service animal. They probably have a hard big enough for him to go out and graze and run. But he has a job to his human. It's wrong to see this animal as an ordinary horse with ordinary circumstances with an ordinary life. You have to see the animal with life it know, and the life it knows isn't a bad life, the life it knows, knows love and caring, the life it knows gives it a purpose more than a pathetic animal that with out this life would have no value, just as any other animal. Hopefully the idiots commenting their disease of ignorance doesn't have any pets of their own, because then their pathetic argument would invalid.
Yes , thank you , i agree
+Lacy Napier I don't see how people think that this video is cruel. This is not cruel at all. This pony only knows to help people.
Emerald Snow ~ Great response! I made mine on the needs of a horse in terms of care. What you said are so accurate and that these animals and "pets" are domesticated. Domesticated and trained animals are happy individual just as we are when in a different environment. It's all they and we know... it's our normal life.
I mean, it's still a horse, regardless. I think having pets and working animals is great, but you do need to provide for their every need. I don't have any issues with it, but as a horse owner I don't really like the idea of a horse not having access to pasture and a herd. Maybe having another horse buddy and a small pasture for when he's not working would be beneficial to him. :)
Emerald Snow it's a nice idea but it's still a horse and horses are herd animals. I have miniatures and I just don't think this is fair to them, as with large horses they need to be outside with the company of their own kind. Visiting nursing homes, hospitals and schools is fine and we have done that.
TONKA IS A CAT.
ruclips.net/video/-rmxQBvWA60/видео.html
My dogs name js Tonka :)
omg horses
she coulda brushed his tail out. great video, but the shavings in his tail bothered me so much i just wanted to reach thru the screen and pick the pieces out
My state only allows dogs to be service animals
Majestic Wolf Girls if you live in the USA the ada (federal law) allows miniature horses in all states
a miniature horse can carry up to 1,000 pounds they were used in the coal mines hoped this helped :)
Rouge Cinematography They can pull, not carry. But not 1000 pounds dude
This would give immediate problems here because it´s not allowed to have a pony or miniature horse in a normal car, no matter what its job is. Also I have problems with the way the pony is kept, in a small area, no grass. But maybe they have another small piece of land so the horse can graze? I like the idea though.
Lol, I forgot I already commented here almost a year ago. Oh well. Getting old..
+Saartje05 The Americans with disabilities act guidelines trump state and local laws... the same ADA rules that apply to guide dogs, apply to mini horses. The reason mini horses were allowed, is because dogs are too short to provide stability help to those with balance issues... if someone with balance issues has to bend over to lean on a dog, they might fall over. Mini horse are taught to lay down, with feet tucked under in the back seat of a vehicle... they are also taught to sit on the back seat of a car like a human, unlike dogs, their feet reach the floor, and they rarely fall over.
mini horses have different needs than regular horses... they don't need as much space. their feet can crack or rot if kept on dirt/mud .... they spend most of the day assisting their human, so they spend very little time in their enclosure. It can take up to four years after the disabled person makes the request for an assistance animal, until they actually get the animal... part of the process is that the disabled person must spend an intensive month long course at the training facility, learning how to work with the horse, as well as caring for the horse.... These are NOT pets... they are working animals.
+Saartje05
Where does it say you can't take a miniature horse in a car? And remember, there's hay and special supplements. No different than feeding a dog it's special food instead of having a place to hunt and kill it's food. Domestic animals are not wild animals.
+Saartje05
You aren't alone. The Cuddles videos are so cute, fascinating, and cheerful.
WachdByBigBrother We have a law for that. Also it's logical.
horse in a car o-o
0:29 omg😱😍
Cool. But transporting a horse, no matter how small, in a normal car isn´t allowed here. For me it wouldn´t be a problem, but that´s the law here. It would be cool if they´d using miniature horses or shetland for this more. So many over here. They´re cheap and have a long life.
It is illegal in many states, sure! But, even if it is illegal in her state (women in video,) they would still have to allow the pony to go with her because of her needs for it. No, people can't just travel them in their cars just because most of the time they want to show off, "hey, look at me! I have a horse into car!" But like I said, they WOULD have to allow it for someone like this. It is cruel and illegal for them not to let a person have what they need. Umm, so why yes, they would allow it if it is needed for a guide or any help, but no, they probably wouldn't allow you to just walk around with a mini, that is of course, depending on the town/state! Hope this helps you understand because I kind of got the wrong idea about your comment :)
*I have a horse in my* not 'into'
You´re allowed to walk around with a pony, that´s not the problem, but I´m sure they wouldn´t allow one to be transported in a normal car. Maybe a small van, but I´m sure here they wouldn´t make exceptions. Never seen a ´help´ pony like that here anyway. Still, it would be cool. They live a lot longer than a dog.
a mini horse can carry half of its weight as for all horses
Stackars häst; inget hästliv han har ju
N'importe quoi. Je suis d'accord que certaines personnes ont besoins d'assistance, mais un poney reste un animal sauvage, ce n'est pas un chien, il ne sera pas heureux dans un magasin ou dans le métro ...
A pony isn't a wild animal, they wouldn't even survive in the wild, so that's not the issue. I do wonder if it's happy though, without being able to graze. Also, a horse or pony in a car, or cable cart. I don't know..
No......... this is wrong😔
Why?
NO offence but I dont like seeing any animal being used to this kind of stuff. Does that pony get to go to a large field, does he/she get enough movement?? I can see that person is moving extremely slow, its not gonna keep the pony in shape.
The miniature horse looks fine to me. It is a service animal and looks quite happy while working. I bet she gets plenty of exercise and play time!
Gone Bad service animals get more excersize and life quality than pets. your pets are worse off than this little pony
your sad ass has no clue about what horses like to do for their living. its not a fucking house pet, even if its the size of a dog. dont respond if you dont know shit
Gone Bad You don't know what horses like to do either evidently. Certainly not being exploited for horse shows. I'm sure this horse gets to run around.
Not with a disabled person. Not in a city. I know its an animal and not a fucking human.
Not a pony????
Miniature horse. Not a pony.
Like come on, dont use animals for your movement problems.....use whatever grannies use to move around!
some people (especially stroke victims) cannot use walkers, also, due to mental impairment after a stroke, having an animal keep a patient from walking into the road at the wrong time (something these animals are taught) is extremely beneficial to the service animal
+Stephanie Hughes sorry, extremely beneficial to the stroke victim