Cheval Assistants and Leaders International

Be honest, the first time you heard the phrase “service horse,“ you probably had no idea what it meant, and your mind went to full-size horses, right? 

That’s completely understandable. They aren’t super common. That is why part of our mission is to educate on their use. The more people know about them, the easier it is for people who already use a service horse, and the more people who know about them, The more likely it is that someone who could benefit from one will find out about them. 

So what are service horses, and what do they do? 

In the United States, federal law describes a service horse as a miniature horse that stands 34 inches tall or shorter and performs at least one task that mitigates the disability of its handler. 

That mitigate a disability part is important. Service animals are trained to do active tasks that assist a person. Simply providing emotional support and comfort is not a task. 

So what are some examples of tasks that people have trained miniature horses to do? 

They can guide a blind handler around obstacles. 

Locate landmarks in an environment to help someone orientate to where they are. 

Locate specific, useful things, such as empty chairs, steps, doors,, etc. 

Guide a blind handler in a straight line when crossing a street. 

Retrieve dropped objects. 

Retrieve specific objects, such as shoes, medication, keys, etc. by name or when pointed to. 

Remind their handler to take their medication at a specific time each day. 

Alert a handler to an oncoming medical event, such as migraines, changes in blood sugar, and panic attacks. 

Guide a handler experiencing a medical event to a quiet, safe place. 

Carry medical equipment, medication, and other items in a pack on their back. 

Flip switches and push buttons, such as for automatic doors and lights. 

Pull a wheelchair. 

Provide counterbalance and or momentum to help someone rise from a seated position to standing or up off of the floor. 

Brace to let a handler lean their weight on them to help balance. 

Provide forward momentum when walking. 

Pause and brace to help someone balance when walking up or downstairs. 

And so much more. 

Horses are amazing animals that have been an integral part of human society for a long time. there are countless heartwarming stories of full-size horses assisting their handlers. 

With some horses being so tiny that there are breeds of dog larger than them, it only makes sense that they make excellent partners for people under the right circumstances. 

So, I’m curious. Did you know any of this? Have you heard of service horses before? If so, from where? And what other questions do you have about them? I would love to answer peoples questions in future posts. 

The CALI Corp is the first organization that was formed to train and match people with these special little horses. Up until now, the only options have been to hire a trainer or train the horse yourself, which aren’t feasible options for a lot of people. 

We are here to fill that need, and we hope you will help us do so. 

Please consider following us here on our blog, on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. and sharing our posts to help spread information about service horses. 

If you are in a position to be able to do so, financial donations in any amount are incredibly helpful. 

CALI Corp. is a 501(c)(3) organization, making donations tax deductible. 

Ways you can donate: 

CashApp: $ServiceHorses 

PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/CALICorp 

Venmo: https://venmo.com/code?user_id=4200029124298695928&created=1733080853  

Checks can be mailed to: 

CALI Corp 

1375 Burkley Rd., Williamston, MI, 48895 

Thank you so much for your support!