One day when I was in high school, my friend and I were eating a meal at Lucky 32. I'm fairly sure we ordered the "Lucky Club," because that is what we always ordered. It was delish. Too bad they changed the menu and closed the location most convenient to me...and too bad I also don't eat meat anymore, so I wouldn't be able to ENJOY the LC now anyway...
BACK TO THE ANECDOTE!
So we were eating, and all of a sudden my friend got really wide eyed and goes, "Oh my god! There's a horse with shoes on!"
At the time, we were young, dumb high school kids who had recently been experimenting with "ways to expand our minds." I thought she was having some sort of a flashback, and she was freaking me out. I refused to turn around and look at this mirage she was "seeing." "Stop it," I shushed! "People are going to hear you and think you're crazy!"
"No, I'm serious. There's a horse with shoes on. A tiny horse!"
Reluctantly, I turned around. This is what I saw:
(note: this is not the actual horse I saw, nor is it the location in which I saw it)
So yes, there it was: a horse with shoes on! Of course, it is a seeing eye horse, but I had never seen one before (and come to think of it, never again either).
The thought of seeing eye ponies brings a few thoughts to mind.
- Why would people use a seeing eye horse instead of just using a seeing eye dog?
- Why does the horse wear shoes? And in the pic above, it looks like the shoes are only covering half of his "feet."
- Why is the horse so small?
- Where can I get one?!
It seems to me, these SEHs would be as much of a curse as a blessing. I'm sure the seeing-impaired owner of the SEH is not able to go anywhere without attracting a crowd along with a load of questions and a bunch of annoying toddlers wanting to pet the pony!
Here's some info from The Guide Horse Foundation about who makes an ideal candidate for a guide horse:
- Horse lovers - Blind
people who have grown up with horses and understand
equine behavior and care are ideal candidates.
- Allergenic people - Many
people who are severely allergic to traditional guide
animals and find horses a non-allergenic alternative for
mobility.
- Mature Individuals - Many
people report difficulty dealing with the grief of losing
their animals, and horses tend to live far longer
than traditional guides.
- Physically Disabled folks
- Because of their docile nature, Guide Horses are
easier to handle for individuals with physical
disabilities. They are also strong enough to provide
support, helping the handler to rise from their chair.
- Dog Phobia - Individuals who fear
dogs are often comfortable working with a tiny horse.
- Outdoor Animal - Many individuals
prefer a guide animal that does not have to live in the house when off
duty.
So there you have it! If you're ever out in public and see one of these cute little horses, do not fear that you've become victim to the long term effects of psychedelic drug experimentation! It's just a guide horse!
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