In a recent CNN video, Tabitha Darling uses her pony, Trixie, as a seeing eye horse.
Darling, who is legally blind, rides Trixie six and a half miles into Ft.
Worth.
The video shows Tabitha and Trixie at a Dairy Queen drive through and shopping in Target.
That's right: "IN Target.
" Darling does not tie up Trixie outside and go in to shop.
She rides her right in through the automatic doors.
Darling is allowed to bring Trixie into Target because Trixie is classified as a service animal.
If Target refused them entry, they could be sued for discrimination.
The video says that the government is considering changing the rules for service animals to include only dogs, as was originally intended.
But, how can anyone deny that Trixie has expanded Tabitha's world? Apparently, Tabitha can't drive, and Trixie is her only way to get around.
It's obvious that their eight year bond is deep.
Trixie is obviously well behaved and knows her way around.
As someone who knows and loves horses, I am a little bothered by riding a horse in a store.
Even a well behaved horse can get spooked sometimes, and that can cause some damage to the store and possibly other people.
If I were Tabitha Darling, I would ride Trixie to the store, dismount, and go in alone.
I had a short conversation with some people on Twitter when I posted this video.
We discussed using miniature horses as service animals.
I can see that because I don't think a spooked mini in Target would cause as much damage as a pony.
We also discussed horses versus dogs as service animals.
A dog would not work for Darling, because she needs Trixie to commute.
But she is not completely blind, either.
For someone who is in a wheelchair like Carolyn Finefrock in the video, a dog works a lot better.
I wonder why someone would choose a miniature horse over a dog, except for the novelty value.
There is no doubt that both horses and dogs can be fiercely loyal to their humans.
But, no matter what the size, a horse is still a prey animal and a dog is a predator.
They have completely different views of the world.
If there were a dangerous situation, a dog would be more likely to stay and protect his human.
It's deep in a horse's evolutionary bones to run.
Darling, who is legally blind, rides Trixie six and a half miles into Ft.
Worth.
The video shows Tabitha and Trixie at a Dairy Queen drive through and shopping in Target.
That's right: "IN Target.
" Darling does not tie up Trixie outside and go in to shop.
She rides her right in through the automatic doors.
Darling is allowed to bring Trixie into Target because Trixie is classified as a service animal.
If Target refused them entry, they could be sued for discrimination.
The video says that the government is considering changing the rules for service animals to include only dogs, as was originally intended.
But, how can anyone deny that Trixie has expanded Tabitha's world? Apparently, Tabitha can't drive, and Trixie is her only way to get around.
It's obvious that their eight year bond is deep.
Trixie is obviously well behaved and knows her way around.
As someone who knows and loves horses, I am a little bothered by riding a horse in a store.
Even a well behaved horse can get spooked sometimes, and that can cause some damage to the store and possibly other people.
If I were Tabitha Darling, I would ride Trixie to the store, dismount, and go in alone.
I had a short conversation with some people on Twitter when I posted this video.
We discussed using miniature horses as service animals.
I can see that because I don't think a spooked mini in Target would cause as much damage as a pony.
We also discussed horses versus dogs as service animals.
A dog would not work for Darling, because she needs Trixie to commute.
But she is not completely blind, either.
For someone who is in a wheelchair like Carolyn Finefrock in the video, a dog works a lot better.
I wonder why someone would choose a miniature horse over a dog, except for the novelty value.
There is no doubt that both horses and dogs can be fiercely loyal to their humans.
But, no matter what the size, a horse is still a prey animal and a dog is a predator.
They have completely different views of the world.
If there were a dangerous situation, a dog would be more likely to stay and protect his human.
It's deep in a horse's evolutionary bones to run.