The Completely Reasonable Reason People Are Flying With Mini Horses
The Department of Transportation’s declaration that miniature horses should be prioritized as service animals has raised many questions.
The Department of Transportation’s declaration that miniature horses should be prioritized as service animals has raised many questions.
Miniature horses can be trained to work and perform tasks for a person with disabilities. Hensley said Flirty helps her with medical alerts and mobility assistance.
Hensley, who trained horses for 20 years, said Flirty was a show pony before her job as a service animal.
DOT listened to all of the stakeholders, reviewed the law, and laid out guidelines that will allow airlines to balance their operational needs, the comfort needs of all passengers, while ensuring that restrictions put in place don’t preclude having mental health needs met.
While that may not mean the end of passengers getting bitten by poorly controlled and vicious animals, it allows some controls to be put in place that may reduce the frequency and severity of incidents.
Service animals have been limited to just dogs, cats and in special circumstances miniature horses. Emotional support animals have been limited to cats and dogs. Only one emotional support animal per passenger will be allowed. Animals under the age of four months have been banned from travelling as service and support animals
United Airlines is limiting emotional support animals to flights under 8 hours. No kittens or puppies under four months will be allowed in-cabin. Emotional support animals will be limited to dogs and cats, service animals are limited to dogs, cats and miniature horses.
For service animals, Southwest says it will accept “only the most common service animals — dogs, cats, and miniature horses.”
“For the health and safety of our customers and Employees, unusual or exotic animals will not be accepted,” the airline added in its statement.
Miniature horses are in, for now. But capuchin monkeys are on shakier ground.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said Wednesday that it will work to make sure “the most commonly used service animals (i.e., dogs, cats, and miniature horses)” are still allowed on flights, despite increased efforts by airlines to crack down on fraudulent assistance critters of all kinds.
Reports of maulings, allergic reactions, faked medical necessity forms and other abuses have poisoned the environment for responsible travelers who legitimately need service animals. The problems have spurred major airlines, including Delta, United and Alaska, to tighten their rules for psychiatric service animals and emotional support companions.