For 14 years, Panda, the fuzzy black-and-white service horse, has led Ann Edie across busy streets. The hip-high miniature horse can fetch house keys and often stood quietly in restaurants while Edie, who is blind, ate her meals. So when Panda needed help, Edie was determined to return the favor.
Last year, the little horse developed a life-threatening intestinal blockage. It required surgery to correct. That was followed by months of nursing Panda through complications.
The Edies agreed to tap into their retirement savings to help the animal Ann has counted on for almost a decade and a half. They spent $30,000 on her care. A network of horse enthusiasts also pitched in with a crowd-funding campaign. Most had followed a blog about Panda’s service training. They wanted to keep her in service. That effort raised $11,000 in contributions.
Panda is now trotting down the long road to recovery—but she’s doing much of it on the Albany, New York, streets again.
Ann Edie has been blind from birth. Now retired, the 69-year-old spent most of her life as a teacher, working with visually impaired children. She has had three guide dogs in that time, but only one faithfully met her needs. That dog, a Labrador retriever named Bailey, died after nine years of service.
Edie decided to try a service horse. They can live much longer than a dog—up to 40 years. Since horses are designed by God to live in herds, Panda adapted well to her human owner’s busy social environment. Until she got sick, Panda lived in the house. She rode in the family car.
But horses—even miniature ones—are more work than dogs are. They must eat throughout the day and need room to run. Edie says the positives are worth it. And so is Panda’s health.
“It comes down to the relationship and the fact that she’s so good at what she does,” says Edie, lovingly patting Panda’s long mane.
