littleoc
MyPTSD Pro
Hello, everyone!!
So, I was hoping you could help me by telling me what you already know about equestrians.
This post is structured like this: I talk about the reasons why someone might want a miniature horse as a service animal by listing facts I found in my research. Then I also mention drawbacks I found or could think of. Then I ask you for your insight or personal opinions.
START
I love my service dog so much, and I assume if I need to that I could get another one. In fact, I need to, because my currently service dog turns 9 years old next end-of-May/start-of-June.
[I was living in dorm rooms and a tiny house for Nestle’s surgery, but knowing that I was still linked to my mom’s hoarded house, I did not adopt any puppies to begin training despite knowing I needed to for years because I was afraid of Nestle and the new puppy having to compete for the right of space.
Also, I was worried about Nestle’s safety, and it would be worse for a puppy. (One time, Nestle ate a chair. It’s been eight years, but the remains of the chair is still in the living room!) Anyway.]
Part of my trauma involved dogs. It is causing me some complications. In my letter I’m writing in case I send the proposal to my doctor for opinions, I explain why but I think y’all won’t need a big explanation? Just in case:
So, I am wanting to brainstorm with you guys about if a service miniature horse would work better for me, or if I should continue attempting to work with dogs until I recover from PTSD enough to be safe in public and at home without assistance.
-------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND OF LEGALITY
In the United States, dogs are typically the only service animals allowed, but as of the year 2010 there was a new, small section on the use of miniature horses as service animals.
The Department of Justice specifically mentions that where reasonable, miniature ponies must be allowed within businesses, unless it poses a significant liability, such as (for example) having the horse within a burn ward where they might compromise a sterile environment.
The Department of Justice states specifically in a sourced PDF available to the public (as mirrored above):
-------------------------------------------------
I was thinking of the pros and the cons. Can you help me add to them?
Pros:
Source: Miniature Horses Offer Service, Serenity and a Potential New Business Opportunity Updated December 2, 2018.
This is something that I thought was great. Miniature horses are expensive to adopt, yet will be around a lot longer. That stability would be helpful all on its own.
Some sources claimed that people don’t mess with a working horse nearly as much as they do a working dog:
Though, it should be said that this source does not list a source for this claim. It could have mentioned police horse studies, but it failed to.
That article, by the way, “Why miniature horses make such great service animals,” lists several great reasons why miniature horses are such great service animals:
That, and as an article I will discuss in more detail in a moment said, it may take significantly less time to train a horse than a dog, and so proportionately there may be more of a benefit time-wise:
Broken link prevents verification of article’s source's accuracy.
Though, that article does say “rigorous,” which may mean that the process would, at first, be quite a commitment, and may take longer for those with jobs, children, school, or other obligations.
I also found that miniature horses are hypoallergenic, and only shed twice a year. They also are possible less likely to eat things off the ground, although one person stated:
Source listed for source of statement is a broken link and is not able to be authenticated as a result.
On that Wikipedia page “Guide horses,” the “Suitability” section lists:
However, importantly,
Source: Guide horse - Wikipedia
Latest source on article material published September 2017.
This is what got me wondering if, despite all these benefits, a highly trained service miniature horse would actually be suitable for someone with PTSD.
I looked around the forums. The only post I found that was relevant were people getting horse therapies for PTSD (does it help you a ton, @Freida?), such as this thread in Treatment & Therapy, “Equine Therapy” posted by @Nighthawk: Equine Therapy
From this, I have noticed that horses can be at least good emotional support. They are truly empathetic (and that is well supported online in peer reviewed journals) and can work well with humans with PTSD. But could they hone in enough to be used for PTSD service work? Could they learn tasks that would help?
I also found some silly posts. Check out what comes up (if you are signed in – when I wasn’t signed in I could barely see anything) when searching MyPTSD for “miniature horse”: Search results for query: miniature horse
In other words, it seems people talk about service horses, but no one here has one for PTSD. And, when I searched the Internet for what service work a miniature horse could do, I mostly found mobility impairment assistance and for guiding the blind.
Tasks my service dog does all include calming me down, bringing me out of dissociations before something dangerous happens, or helping me to escape a dangerous situation.
However, Nestle also wakes me up from nightmares. Would a mini horse want to sleep indoors?
Do you work with horses? Do you work with miniature horses?
Do you have any advice on how one might be able to get a horse to help with PTSD by the use of specific tasks? Do you know if it would be helpful? Do you think it might be worth a try, once I have a yard?
Thank you so much for any insight!
So, I was hoping you could help me by telling me what you already know about equestrians.
This post is structured like this: I talk about the reasons why someone might want a miniature horse as a service animal by listing facts I found in my research. Then I also mention drawbacks I found or could think of. Then I ask you for your insight or personal opinions.
START
I love my service dog so much, and I assume if I need to that I could get another one. In fact, I need to, because my currently service dog turns 9 years old next end-of-May/start-of-June.
[I was living in dorm rooms and a tiny house for Nestle’s surgery, but knowing that I was still linked to my mom’s hoarded house, I did not adopt any puppies to begin training despite knowing I needed to for years because I was afraid of Nestle and the new puppy having to compete for the right of space.
Also, I was worried about Nestle’s safety, and it would be worse for a puppy. (One time, Nestle ate a chair. It’s been eight years, but the remains of the chair is still in the living room!) Anyway.]
Part of my trauma involved dogs. It is causing me some complications. In my letter I’m writing in case I send the proposal to my doctor for opinions, I explain why but I think y’all won’t need a big explanation? Just in case:
She has been a huge help, and though I have always loved dogs, I have really adored Nestle. But I am having some challenges with her being a dog because dogs were involved in my trauma. Nestle wakes me up from nightmares, but – and this is a little awkward to admit – I’ve occasionally pushed her off my bed some nights that she woke me up, because I was dreaming either of being attacked by a dog while escaping a dangerous situation, or of Billie the dog who was raped in front of me daily for a year straight (2004-2005, when I was ten years old and eleven years old). It’s much more complicated than that, but no further details are required to understand this subject.
Because of the traumas, I am occasionally so protective of Nestle in public that when people follow us with cameras, I get a bit upset. And have to remember that most people don’t want to exploit my dog. I also have – again, awkward to admit – called the police before thinking people were after both of us. One woman in a grocery store commented that she liked my dog’s anus and I was a bit horrified. I would have been without the trauma, but with trauma this was deeply unsettling. At my old university, professors would let their dogs lose around my dog and they would attack Nestle, so now whenever I see another dog and Nestle is with me, my main motive has been to protect Nestle at all costs. Nestle, in turn, has behaved differently about other dogs, because she “thinks” (she’s technically right) that I’m afraid of them. However, she herself has never been aggressive to other dogs, even while they were biting her.
Because of all of the challenges, I have been attempting to resolve the traumas in therapy, but even several years after first starting EMDR, I’m having serious trouble. My dog herself can occasionally cause flashbacks, and it feels unfair to her.
For example, my dog poses a certain way when she’s ready for her leash to be removed. She’s not doing anything wrong, but I will instantly get upset and Nestle will seem unsure about how to help.
Because of the traumas, I am occasionally so protective of Nestle in public that when people follow us with cameras, I get a bit upset. And have to remember that most people don’t want to exploit my dog. I also have – again, awkward to admit – called the police before thinking people were after both of us. One woman in a grocery store commented that she liked my dog’s anus and I was a bit horrified. I would have been without the trauma, but with trauma this was deeply unsettling. At my old university, professors would let their dogs lose around my dog and they would attack Nestle, so now whenever I see another dog and Nestle is with me, my main motive has been to protect Nestle at all costs. Nestle, in turn, has behaved differently about other dogs, because she “thinks” (she’s technically right) that I’m afraid of them. However, she herself has never been aggressive to other dogs, even while they were biting her.
Because of all of the challenges, I have been attempting to resolve the traumas in therapy, but even several years after first starting EMDR, I’m having serious trouble. My dog herself can occasionally cause flashbacks, and it feels unfair to her.
For example, my dog poses a certain way when she’s ready for her leash to be removed. She’s not doing anything wrong, but I will instantly get upset and Nestle will seem unsure about how to help.
So, I am wanting to brainstorm with you guys about if a service miniature horse would work better for me, or if I should continue attempting to work with dogs until I recover from PTSD enough to be safe in public and at home without assistance.
-------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND OF LEGALITY
In the United States, dogs are typically the only service animals allowed, but as of the year 2010 there was a new, small section on the use of miniature horses as service animals.
Source: Miniature Horses Offer Service, Serenity and a Potential New Business Opportunity Updated December 2, 2018.The Department of Justice recently revised ADA regulations to recognize and allow miniature horses, that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities, to qualify and serve as service animals. Miniature horses generally range in height from 24 inches to 34 inches measured to the shoulders and generally weigh between 70 and 100 pounds. [….]
Pursuant to these new regulations, entities covered by the ADA must modify existing policies to permit and accommodate miniature service horses. The ADA regulations have four assessment factors to assist entities in determining whether miniature service horses must be accommodated in their facility. The assessment factors are
(1) whether the miniature horse is housebroken; (2) whether the miniature horse is under the owner's control; (3) whether the facility can accommodate the miniature horse's type, size, and weight; and (4) whether the miniature horse's presence will compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility.
The Department of Justice specifically mentions that where reasonable, miniature ponies must be allowed within businesses, unless it poses a significant liability, such as (for example) having the horse within a burn ward where they might compromise a sterile environment.
The Department of Justice states specifically in a sourced PDF available to the public (as mirrored above):
Source: ADA Requirements: Service Animals Published in July 2010/2011.In addition to the provisions about service dogs, the Department’s revised ADA regulations have a new, separate provision about miniature horses that have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. (Miniature horses generally range in height from 24 inches to 34 inches measured to the shoulders and generally weigh between 70 and 100 pounds.) Entities covered by the ADA must modify their policies to permit miniature horses where reasonable. The regulations set out four assessment factors to assist entities in determining whether miniature horses can be accommodated in their facility. The assessment factors are (1) whether the miniature horse is housebroken; (2) whether the miniature horse is under the owner’s control; (3) whether the facility can accommodate the miniature horse’s type, size, and weight; and (4) whether the miniature horse’s presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility.
-------------------------------------------------
I was thinking of the pros and the cons. Can you help me add to them?
Pros:
Sentence bolded for emphasis.As a service animal, the miniature service horse has advantages over the service dog. One of these advantages is life expectancy. Service dogs on average live to be about 12-15 years old; a miniature service horse's life expectancy ranges from 35-40 years. Another advantage the miniature service horse has relative to the service dog is size and strength. For many injured servicemen returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the size and strength of the miniature service horse is far better suited than is a service dog.
Source: Miniature Horses Offer Service, Serenity and a Potential New Business Opportunity Updated December 2, 2018.
This is something that I thought was great. Miniature horses are expensive to adopt, yet will be around a lot longer. That stability would be helpful all on its own.
Some sources claimed that people don’t mess with a working horse nearly as much as they do a working dog:
Source: Why miniature horses make such great service animals Published October 2018.Better acceptance: Guide dog users report resistance in accessing public places where dogs are not permitted because their dog is perceived as a pet. Those who use miniature horses do not seem to have this problem since the animal is more easily recognizable as a service one.
Though, it should be said that this source does not list a source for this claim. It could have mentioned police horse studies, but it failed to.
That article, by the way, “Why miniature horses make such great service animals,” lists several great reasons why miniature horses are such great service animals:
Source: Why miniature horses make such great service animals Published October 2018.Long lifespan: While a guide dog can serve for maybe eight to 12 years, horse have an average lifespan of 30 to 40 years, and can live to be more than 50 years old. Since people and their service animals become so bonded, how wonderful to have each other for so long.
That, and as an article I will discuss in more detail in a moment said, it may take significantly less time to train a horse than a dog, and so proportionately there may be more of a benefit time-wise:
Source: Guide horse - WikipediaThe process of training a guide horse is rigorous and takes about eight months for each horse.
Broken link prevents verification of article’s source's accuracy.
Though, that article does say “rigorous,” which may mean that the process would, at first, be quite a commitment, and may take longer for those with jobs, children, school, or other obligations.
Cost effective: Only 7,000 out of the 1.3 million blind people in the US use guide dogs. Training can cost up to $60,000, according to the Guide Dog Users national advocacy group, which could prove prohibitive. "Hence, a Guide Horse could be more cost-effective and ensure that more blind people receive a guide animal," notes the foundation.
Calm nature: Just think of calvary and police horses in the midst of chaos – horses can be trained to remain very, very calm.
Great memory: Horses have amazing memories. I know that's a fact because of my childhood with horses, but the foundation add that horse will naturally remember a dangerous situation decades after it happened.
Excellent vision: Because of the placement of their eyes, a horse's range of vision is almost a remarkable 350 degrees. They are the only guide animals that can move each eye independently, meaning they can track potential danger with each eye. Plus, they can see very well in the dark.
Focused demeanor: Trained horses are very focused on their work and are not easily distracted.
Safety conscious: Horses are very alert and always looking for dangerous situations. "All horses have a natural propensity to guide their master along the safest most efficient route," explains the foundation, "and demonstrate excellent judgment in obstacle avoidance training."
High stamina: Healthy horses are hearty and robust.
Source: Why miniature horses make such great service animals Published October 2018.Good manners: Guide horses can be housebroken, they do not get fleas and only shed two times per year. (Which means they are also a great choice for people who are allergic to dogs.)
I also found that miniature horses are hypoallergenic, and only shed twice a year. They also are possible less likely to eat things off the ground, although one person stated:
Source: Guide horse - WikipediaThere were setbacks; the first time they took a miniature horse to the grocery store, it grabbed a Snickers bar off the shelf.
Source listed for source of statement is a broken link and is not able to be authenticated as a result.
On that Wikipedia page “Guide horses,” the “Suitability” section lists:
- Horses normally live to be 25–35 years old.[5] This is far longer than the lifespan of a dog (8–16 years, depending upon breed).[6]
- On average, miniature horses may live one-third longer than large horses.[7]
- Miniature horses chosen for assistance horse training weigh approximately 55–100 pounds.[7]
However, importantly,
Bolded sentences for emphasis.
- Miniature horses are, in general, not suited for assisting people who are deaf or hearing impaired. Most dog breeds have a natural “watchdog instinct” that is important for a hearing assistance animal; horses do not have this instinct.[8]
Source: Guide horse - Wikipedia
Latest source on article material published September 2017.
This is what got me wondering if, despite all these benefits, a highly trained service miniature horse would actually be suitable for someone with PTSD.
I looked around the forums. The only post I found that was relevant were people getting horse therapies for PTSD (does it help you a ton, @Freida?), such as this thread in Treatment & Therapy, “Equine Therapy” posted by @Nighthawk: Equine Therapy
From this, I have noticed that horses can be at least good emotional support. They are truly empathetic (and that is well supported online in peer reviewed journals) and can work well with humans with PTSD. But could they hone in enough to be used for PTSD service work? Could they learn tasks that would help?
I also found some silly posts. Check out what comes up (if you are signed in – when I wasn’t signed in I could barely see anything) when searching MyPTSD for “miniature horse”: Search results for query: miniature horse
In other words, it seems people talk about service horses, but no one here has one for PTSD. And, when I searched the Internet for what service work a miniature horse could do, I mostly found mobility impairment assistance and for guiding the blind.
Tasks my service dog does all include calming me down, bringing me out of dissociations before something dangerous happens, or helping me to escape a dangerous situation.
However, Nestle also wakes me up from nightmares. Would a mini horse want to sleep indoors?
Do you work with horses? Do you work with miniature horses?
Do you have any advice on how one might be able to get a horse to help with PTSD by the use of specific tasks? Do you know if it would be helpful? Do you think it might be worth a try, once I have a yard?
Thank you so much for any insight!