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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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5

Muslim Woman Leans on Guide Horse

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(Newser) – Muslims consider canines unclean, which was a problem for a blind Muslim woman who wanted a guide dog. So she got a guide horse. Mona Ramouni of suburban Detroit is getting used to 3-year-old miniature horse Cali—“this is a really awesome little horse,” she told the AP—but it’s not a relationship to be taken lightly. “Taking on a horse as a guide is a huge commitment,” Cali’s trainer said.

“It is not a novelty. It is a real working animal,” the trainer said, adding that Ramouni, 28, is handling it well: “I've never met a young woman with so much dedication.” For her part, Ramouni is in it for the long haul. “I want a horse that will be a partner for the next 30 or so years,” she said. “What I really want is to be able to take her places and go places with her that neither of us ever would have been able to do without each other.”

Mona Ramouni with her guide horse, Cali, proofreads material at K&R Braille Transcribing in Lincoln Park, Mich.
Mona Ramouni with her guide horse, Cali, proofreads material at K&R Braille Transcribing in Lincoln Park, Mich.   (AP Photo)
Mona Ramouni, left, and her guide horse, Cali, walk by co-worker Kelli Finger and her black Labrador.
Mona Ramouni, left, and her guide horse, Cali, walk by co-worker Kelli Finger and her black Labrador.   (AP Photo)
Mona Ramouni rides  bus to her job with her guide horse, Cali.
Mona Ramouni rides bus to her job with her guide horse, Cali.   (AP Photo)
Mona Ramouni rides a bus to her job with her guide horse, Cali.
Mona Ramouni rides a bus to her job with her guide horse, Cali.   (AP Photo)
Mona Ramouni and her guide horse, Cali, meet with her boss.
Mona Ramouni and her guide horse, Cali, meet with her boss.   (AP Photo)
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Doctor_Zaius
Apr 10, 09 6:11 PM CDT
You gotta wonder about people who don't like dogs. Reply
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proxieme2
Apr 10, 09 8:45 PM CDT
I get the whole "unclean" thing that Muslims have with dogs...well, "get" might be too strong a word, but I know a few Muslims who're wary of dogs, and that's cool. But...er...first thought: Who's scooping up after this bad boy? I mean, has anyone here ever /had/ a horse??? And...well...perhaps it's different with a "trained" pony, but I've never known one to be too particular about where it goes. Just sayin'. Reply
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Mad
Apr 11, 09 9:28 AM CDT
I have two horse, a Belgium bay and a old draft mare. Look at the pics. It's a miniature pony. They poop about the same as a large dog. Okay, TWO large dogs. And yes, I'm sure the broke the animal not to poop just anywhere
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riffran
Apr 10, 09 9:01 PM CDT
good thing she is here, and not in "sharya-ville"...god knows what would become of her *ahem* un-natural relationship.......guide horse....cool Reply
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Sphinx
Apr 12, 09 10:36 AM CDT
Oh come on, you're going to take this as a chance to make some vague insulting comment about Islam? Get a life, dude. This is just about a cool horse.
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