Service Horse on Plane: United Airlines Pioneers Access

United Airlines has made a significant breakthrough in accessibility by allowing service horses on planes. This is a game-changer for individuals with disabilities who rely on their service horses for daily tasks.

In 2018, United Airlines became the first major US airline to allow service horses in the cabin. This decision was made after a lengthy process of advocacy and education.

Service horses are highly trained animals that assist individuals with disabilities, and they require special care and attention. United Airlines has developed a comprehensive policy to accommodate these animals, including providing a special harness and a trained handler.

The airline's service horse policy has been a huge success, with many passengers praising the airline's commitment to accessibility.

Equine service animals, like Flirty, are a game-changer for people with disabilities.

They provide mobility assistance, medical alerts, and responses, allowing individuals like Hensley to live independently and fulfill their lives. She can now go grocery shopping, see friends, and enjoy movies without any issues.

Equine service animals are trained to be just as reliable as service dogs, with requirements that include being potty trained, taught to retrieve dropped items, and more.

Horses have advantages over dogs, such as having a more stable spine, making them perfect for supporting individuals in wheelchairs.

With patience and proper training, equine service animals can learn to do nearly anything, including being potty trained to pee or poop on command.

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines apply to equine service animals, requiring them to be under their handler's control, harnessed or leashed, and wearing a vest that distinguishes them as service animals.

Flirty, for example, is potty trained and can go for about an hour and 45 minutes without needing to use the bathroom, making air travel with her a breeze.

You'll want to get your equine service animal an official health certificate before flying, which is a good idea regardless of the type of travel.

To minimize colic risks, it's recommended to feed your horse hay up until departure, and then continue feeding treats during the flight to keep food in their stomach.

Specialized training can also help prepare your equine service animal for the flight, such as simulating turbulence on a city bus or car ride with quick acceleration and deceleration.

It's essential to potty train your equine service animal, and they should be able to hold their bladder for at least an hour and a half, as Flirty did on her flight.

Horses can be housebroken, but it's a bit harder to teach them not to relieve themselves in the car, as Fred's handler Ronica Froese found out.

Explore further: Service Mini Horse

Equine service animals must be outfitted in harnesses, similar to a dog harness, and wear a vest to distinguish them as service animals.

Equine service animals often wear hoof boots for better traction on indoor surfaces.

A sheet or fitted bodysuit can be used to keep loose hairs or allergens from bothering other passengers.

It's actually fairly easy to housebreak a miniature horse, but teaching them not to relieve themselves in the car can be a bigger challenge.

Equine service animals must be potty trained, and their handlers should make regular stops for them to relieve themselves, especially during long trips like flights.

Flirty, a miniature horse, made history by becoming the first horse to fly on a commercial airplane. She accompanied her owner, Abrea Hensley, on a flight from Omaha to Chicago.

To prepare Flirty for the flight, Hensley fed her treats during takeoff and landing to help with ear pressure. She also made sure Flirty had a potty break before the flight and used a service animal relief station at the airport.

Flirty wore a special harness and vest to identify her as a service animal, just like service dogs. She was also potty trained, which is a requirement for equine service animals.

The flight was a tight fit for Flirty, but she remained calm and quiet the whole time. Hensley even gave her pretzels to chew on during takeoff to help with the pressure.

Flirty's owner, Hensley, has post-traumatic stress disorder and is allergic to dogs, making Flirty a vital companion. She's grateful to the FAA for making it possible for her to fly with her service animal.