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03-22-2004, 03:52 PM | #1 |
Radical Centrist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
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3/22/2004: Guide pony
Sometimes I'm short on Friday images, and sometimes I have too many as is the case now - so one will sneak out early. This one is almost too Fridayish. It turns out that a few blind people (er, visually challenged??) are starting to switch from guide dogs to guide ponies. They say that one advantage is that ponies have a lifespan of 40 years, so you don't have to get used to 3-4 different ones over their lifetimes and yours. On the other hand, they had better be house trained or take to diapering. I don't think the malls will be happy to clean up what this thing might put out. Still, I'm not blind and I want one. Look at the wittle shoesies! |
03-22-2004, 04:13 PM | #2 |
Love my Heffalumps
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Sydney, Australia (best place in the world)
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Can I buy one on Credit? I want one so much.
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03-22-2004, 04:43 PM | #3 |
Keeper of the Decorum
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Virginia
Posts: 59
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What will they think of next
MAN!
Can't she read--it clearly says do not touch-- Oh Just kidding:p |
03-22-2004, 04:51 PM | #4 |
I can hear my ears
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 25,571
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I don;t know about this. At first glance, i thought this was going to be about a record smallest horse. that thing is even tiny for a pony. where did you come by this photo? i think dogs may have the advantage of barking, growling, and otherwise communicating aurally with their masters. I know horses are smart, but, i question how effective they could be in this capacity. did you check this for validity? Has anyone ever seen one of these ponies in use?
or is this just one wierd "horse person" that happens to be unsighted? i'm skeptical
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03-22-2004, 04:55 PM | #5 |
I can hear my ears
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 25,571
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ok, i did my own homework for once and it appears to be legit.
i don't think you'd be taken very seriously, but they DO seem to have merit. neat.
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This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan Last edited by lumberjim; 03-22-2004 at 05:04 PM. |
03-22-2004, 05:02 PM | #6 |
I can hear my ears
Join Date: Oct 2003
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seeing eye pachyderms:
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This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan |
03-22-2004, 05:13 PM | #7 | ||
dar512 is now Pete Zicato
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Chicago suburb
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Re: 3/22/2004: Guide pony
Quote:
Quote:
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03-22-2004, 05:18 PM | #8 |
I think this line's mostly filler.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC
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I wonder if their hooves are just too small to take horseshoes, or if they just think the pony-sneakers are cute.
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_________________ |...............| We live in the nick of times. | Len 17, Wid 3 | |_______________| [pics] |
03-22-2004, 05:21 PM | #9 | |
I can hear my ears
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there was a reference to those sneakers on another site that linked nack to the one i found, but whne i went back and looked, the answer was not obvious.
Quote:
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This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan |
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03-22-2004, 05:50 PM | #10 |
Keeper of the Decorum
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Virginia
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03-22-2004, 05:55 PM | #11 |
Keeper of the Decorum
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Virginia
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I do have work to do, really!
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03-22-2004, 06:17 PM | #12 |
I think this line's mostly filler.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC
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Here's the FAQ, with the sneaker question, but I guess my real question was why they're in sneaker form rather than shoe form. Maybe soft soles work much better if they have a slightly larger footprint than the foot itself. And maybe they want the soft soles to be removeable.
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_________________ |...............| We live in the nick of times. | Len 17, Wid 3 | |_______________| [pics] |
03-22-2004, 09:45 PM | #13 |
The future is unwritten
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It's a little tough taking muddy horseshoes off on the porch. Especially if you're blind.
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03-22-2004, 11:38 PM | #14 |
Knight of the Oval-Shaped Conference Table
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It's hard ehough to walk through someone's yard who has a large dog, without stepping in... something. Now imagine you're blind , and instead of a dog, you have a horse.
Quzah. |
03-23-2004, 01:37 AM | #15 |
lobber of scimitars
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phila Burbs
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I'm a little surprised at this.
Yes, Falabella ponies are as cute as cute can be ... But horses, generally, are dumb as posts. Even the smart ones. They also have a tendency to panic and run first, and start thinking after their slow little brains catch up with the rest of their bodies. This works well for them in the wild, but less so around humans. (Anyone who has ever ridden a horse which shies and bolts knows exactly what I'm talking about here.) My guess on the cute little shoesies is this ... Horse hooves are adapted for walking and running on grassy areas. The reason that we shoe horses (with metal horseshoes) is to keep the hoof intact on a variety of substances. Horse's hooves are apt to split and crack. They are like our toenails and keep growing ... part of the farrier's job is to keep them trimmed. Okay, none of this really relates to the cute horsie sneakers ... but, if you have ever tried to walk a horse over a surface other than grass, or that is a little slick ... they tend to scrabble around and fall over. This is not as big a deal with something the size of a Falabella, but with a 16+ hand horse, you got yourself a major problem. I had a horse fall on me under similar circumstances. He and I both ended up being okay, but it was quite scary. I wouldn't think that a horse would be a good choice for a blind person also, on account of how sensitive a horse's feet can be ... even minor damage to the frog (soft bit in the center of the underside of the foot) can make the horse lame ... and this includes getting a stone lodged between the wall of the hoof and the frog. It's something you realize fairly soon when you're riding, but might go unnoticed for some time by someone not able to observe the animal's gait. So ... I guess my shorter answer would be the purpose of the shoes is for traction, protection of the hoof, and to cut down on the "clip clop" noise.
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