TheBlindJournalist: Digby Update & Introducing Cali - BBC North West Tonight

Blind Journalist's Eyes Opened By Guide Horse

“It was like I wasn’t blind when I had the harness for Cali in my hand. Being lead by a fully trained guide horse allowed me to walk at speeds at and with confidence that I’ve never had when being guided by a human or using a cane.”

 

Losing my sight in my teens was the toughest thing I’ve dealt with to date. My fear of dogs meant I couldn’t experience the independence and companionship that a guide dog brings thousands of fellow blind people.

 

So, what do I do? Find a solution of course. It just so happens to be one that raises eyebrows everytime I mention it - a miniature horse being my guide animal of choice.

 

Sounds crazy but it isn’t when you actually look into it. Thankfully it was looked into, 20 years ago in fact. Guide horses were introduced into America for those blind people that can’t have a guide dog but who would benefit from a guide horse but also facilitate its needs. Israel followed suit recently. And now, I’m looking to add the UK to the list of countries where guide horses are used.

 

Since 2012, I’ve done in-depth research into the concept of miniature guide horses and followed the progress of users and making contact with them and their trainers. Up until 2018 though it was a concept to me but in October I went out to Lansing, Michigan and Albany, New York, to work with, walk with and see what a fully trained guide horse could actually do. I also enrolled on to a five day clicker training course – this is the method through which all guide horses are trained; positive reinforcement. I was turning my perceptions, dreams and ambitions into reality.

 

I first met with Mona Ramouni and her family in Lansing, Michigan, and not forgetting her amazing guide horse, Cali.

Mona has been working with Cali since 2008 but also trains guide horses for other individuals; she’s paired six so far.

 

Before I went out to America I was training with a guide horse called Digby, who was in Northallerton, Yorkshire but I had noticed that as time went on, and the training continued, his growth was making it impractical in certain situations. This was therefore defeating the point of having an assistance animal. My trip to America would allow me to see the stature of their horses, and therefore compare Digby to them. This would then help with making my decision on his suitability.

 

Feeling Cali for the first time was breathtaking but it also added to my feelings that Digby would no longer be suitable for me. I also met miniature horse’s Willow, Maya and Panda. Seeing their size cemented my knowledge that a guide horse needs to be within the universally accepted and agreed size of 30 inches or under.     

 

I’m gutted that Digby isn’t going to be my guide horse. I had built a bond with him and saw the amazing potential he had as a guide, due to his temperament. However, this situation is extremely common when it comes to guide dogs, thousands of dogs don’t make it as guides – whether that be early on or later in their training, or even after they’re paired. 

 

The situation can’t be helped, but this setback isn’t going to hold me back. I hope to still be the UK’s first recipient of a guide horse. I am determined that guide horses will be introduced to the UK and those that want and can facilitate them are able to. 

 

Having returned from America, where I went to see fully trained and working guide horses in action, and having training with them,  I want to do everything I can to ensure blind and visually impaired people in the UK can experience the sheer joy being guided by a miniature horse can bring.

 

Being lead by a fully trained guide horse allowed me to walk at speeds and with confidence that I’ve never had when being guided by a human or using a cane. It was like I wasn’t blind when I had the harness for Cali in my hand.”

 

 

TheBlindJournalist: Walking With Cali, A Fully Trained Guide Horse