WHAT do you do when you are blind but have a debilitating fear of dogs? Blackburn TV producer Mohammed Salim Patel writes about how he discovered the remarkable abilities of guide horses and his life-changing trip to America to meet one...

IT was like I wasn’t blind when I had the harness for Cali in my hand. Being led by a fully-trained guide horse allowed me to walk at speeds and with the confidence I’ve never had when being guided by a human or using a cane.

My name is Mohammed Salim Patel. I’m 24 and I work as a planning producer on BBC North West Tonight.

I’m registered blind after being born with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition.

Losing my sight in my teens was the toughest thing I’ve dealt with to date. My fear of dogs meant I couldn’t experience the independence and companionship that a guide dog brings thousands of fellow blind people.

So, what do I do? Find a solution of course. It just so happens to be one that raises eyebrows every time I mention it - a miniature horse being my guide animal of choice.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Sounds crazy but it isn’t when you actually look into it. Thankfully it was looked into, 20 years ago in fact. Guide horses were introduced into America for those blind people who can’t have a guide dog but who would benefit from a guide horse but also facilitate its needs. Israel followed suit recently. And now, I’m looking to add the UK to the list of countries where guide horses are used.

Since 2012 I’ve done in-depth research into the concept of miniature guide horses and followed the progress of users, making contact with them and their trainers.

READ MORE: Blackburn blind journalist to get UK's forst guide horse

Up until 2018 though it was only a concept to me – but in October I went out to Lansing, Michigan, and Albany, New York, to work with, walk with and see what a fully-trained guide horse could actually do.

There were people in America who had only owned one guide horse in 20 years, you would go through two or three dogs in that time.

They’re fantastic animals and I was able to walk on my own with just the horse.

Lancashire Telegraph:

It gave me a great sense of confidence. I was able to relax a bit more because I trusted the horse.

I almost felt like I could see better because it helped me so much.

If the surface changed, for example from tarmac to cobbles, the horse would stop, tap the floor and make him aware of the changes.

I also enrolled on to a five-day clicker training course – this is the method through which all guide horses are trained.

I was turning my perceptions, dreams and ambitions into reality.

READ MORE: Journalist's guide HORSE up for top 'pet hero' award

I first met Mona Ramouni and her family in Lansing, Michigan, not forgetting her amazing guide horse, Cali.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mona has been working with Cali since 2008 but also trains guide horses for other people – she’s paired six so far.

Before I went out America I was training with a guide horse called Digby, who was in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, but I had noticed that as time went on, and the training continued, his growth was making it impractical in certain situations.

This was therefore defeating the point of having an assistance animal. My trip to America would allow me to see the stature of their horses, and therefore compare Digby to them. This would then help with making my decision on his suitability.

Feeling Cali for the first time was breathtaking but it also added to my feelings that Digby would no longer be suitable for me.

I also met miniature horses Willow, Maya and Panda. Seeing their size cemented my knowledge that a guide horse needs to be within the universally accepted and agreed size of 30 inches high or under.

Lancashire Telegraph: Mohammed Salim Patel with Digby in the streets of Blackburn

I’m gutted that Digby isn’t going to be my guide horse. I had formed a bond with him and saw the amazing potential he had as a guide, due to his temperament.

However, this situation is extremely common when it comes to guide dogs. Thousands of dogs don’t make it as guides – whether that be early on or later in their training, or even after they’re paired.

The situation can’t be helped, but this setback isn’t going to hold me back. I hope to still be the UK’s first recipient of a guide horse.

I am determined that guide horses will be introduced to the UK and those that want and can facilitate them are able to.

Having returned from America, where I went to see fully-trained and working guide horses in action, and having training with them,  I want to do everything I can to ensure blind and visually-impaired people in the UK can experience the sheer joy being guided by a miniature horse can bring.

After going to America, having a guide horse sounds like a no brainer to me.

The horses I saw were house trained. Yes, you would need the space to keep them, but if you cannot have a dog due to allergies or fear, then it’s perfect.

I’m still looking to get my own horse, I’ll benefit so much from it.

If I could set up a charity one day to help others then that would be a great achievement.

Being led by a guide horse allowed me to walk at speeds and with confidence that I’ve never had when being guided by a human or using a cane. It was like I wasn’t blind when I had the harness for Cali in my hand.