inactive
Woman has helpful horse
By Mark Boshnack
Staff Writer
ONEONTA _ "I’ve loved horses all my life," 60-year-old Springfield Center resident Kathy Wallace said Thursday.
But since last year, she has also relied on a miniature horse to help her deal with her disabilities.
Wallace, who moved to the area 10 years ago from Staten Island, said she named the 13-month-old brown animal she got from a neighbor Magic Mouse.
"He not only makes people smile, but he makes me feel better even when I don’t feel so good," she said.
She brought the 34-inch-tall horse she uses as a service animal with her when she went shopping in Oneonta on Thursday, including at Dollar Tree on Southside.
With fibromyalgia, arthritis and a number of other illnesses, Wallace gets tired easily, although she can walk, she explained why she needs the animal.
Wallace has had a wheelchair for about 12 years. She started using the horse in October.
She really didn’t have to train Magic, she said: "He just knew what to do."
With his help, "for the first time, when I go into a store, I don’t have to worry about running out of energy," Wallace said.
Christine Zachmeyer, executive director of Catskill Center for Independence, a group that advocates for people with disabilities, said she was not familiar with Wallace’s situation, but the Americans with Disabilities Act allows this type of service animal.
Under the law, stores are required to allow these animals and their owners to be where customers are normally allowed to go.
A miniature horse is not the usual choice, but Zachmeyer said she has also heard of cases that involved pigs and parrots. She has also heard of a snake that fit the definition because it provided the comfort and confidence the person needed.
Magic appeared cooperative Thursday as people gathered around Wallace, who controlled him with a leash.
Before that, he walked beside her or pushed the chair from behind.
Every now and then, she had pull on the leash and tell him to slow down _ sometimes more than once.
Wallace said she doesn’t mind telling anyone who asks about her situation.
"I’m educating people about how the horse can be used as a service animal," she said.
Dollar Tree assistant manager Wayne McCulley said Wallace has been in the store before with Magic.
McCulley said he has not had any problems with Magic. A service animal will not be denied entrance, he said.
Several children in the store expressed amazement about Magic’s work.
"It was pretty cool how the horse was pushing her around," said 12-year-old Tamara MacDonald of Walton. "That’s nice of the horse."
She said she has heard of service dogs but never a service horse.
Nine-year-old Eric Olsen, of Oneonta, said he was surprised to see a horse as a service animal.
His mother, Susan, said she had heard about Magic, but "this is the first time I’ve seen him in person. I’m proud of the store for letting him in. I think it’s great."
- Local News
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Police departments investigating apparent murder-suicide in Walton
