The idea struck Janet Burleson as she was taking a leisurely horse ride through New York City's Central Park; why not use small horses as guides for persons with seeing disabilities? It may sound a bit unusual, but the idea has become a reality at the Guide Horse Foundation in Kittrell, N.C.

The foundation selects and trains miniature Guide Horses to be used in much the same manner as dogs. They respond well to the training, learning the difficult job of being a Guide Horse, navigating city streets, safely dodging traffic, and recognizing traffic lights. And thanks to financial support the foundation receives from donors, the Guide Horses are provided free of charge to those in need.

According to Burleson, the verification came in the form of a miniature horse named Twinkie. Twinkie was the first miniature horse trained to prove that it was possible. However, these are still horses, and certain precautions must be taken. For instance, the horses must wear adult-sized incontinence garments to protect against "accidents," and they must also wear special sneakers to keep them from damaging floors or their feet.

Dan Shaw of Ellsworth, Maine, will be the first person to actually use one of the trained Guide Horses. In May 2001, Shaw will travel to the foundation's facility in North Carolina to undergo three weeks of training with his miniature horse, Cuddles. Shaw first heard of the facility on Ripley's Believe It or Not, and his horse is sponsored by author Patricia Cornwell.

Shaw says he can see distinct advantages to using a Guide Horse, as opposed to a dog. "They live 35 to 40 years, whereas a dog lives only 8 to 12," he said. "You get close to a dog and then you have to get a new one. Cuddles will be part of the family and she'll grow old with me. She has 350 degree vision. She sees everything but her tail and she sees well in the dark. It only takes a couple of soup cans of oats a day to feed her."

But there are also drawbacks. "I guess the biggest concern is just people accepting her. But the more publicity cuddles and I get, the easier it will be for people to accept guide horses."

Across the country in Tacoma, Wash., Cheryle King is scheduled to become the first West Coast recipient of one of the foundation's trained miniature horses, Cricket. Cricket stands 26 inches tall and weighs 55 pounds. The horse has been at the training grounds since October, 2000, and is scheduled to go home with King in the summer. King is excited about taking her new companion home with her.

"It's great," she says. "I ride horses and didn't really want a dog. People who live in the country and rural areas can have a horse, not just a dog."

She, too, is impressed with the horses' visual abilities. The 350 degrees of vision allows the horse to see everything but its own tail – vision much better than that of a dog. "And," continues King, "(Cricket) has the backing of Federal laws in restaurants, airplanes, malls grocery stores—anywhere the dogs can go."

For more information on Guide Horses, visit www.guidehorse.com or www.minihorse.cc or you can email trainer Janet Burleson at janet@guidehorse.com