Airline policy on traveling with emotional support horses

For the latest in miniature horse headlines visit: http://www.guidehorse.com/law_n_news.htm

As you may know, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been interpreted to allow those with anxiety disorders to travel with an emotional support pony on the airlines.

http://www.guidehorse.org/news_emot_supt.htm

There is a fundamental difference between a Service Horse and a Emotional Support Horse (ESH). It is a Federal offense for anyone to require documentation from anyone using a Service Horse, but people with an ESH are required to provide a doctors note, confirming a mental health diagnosis.

American Airlines has issues their rules for traveling with emotional support horses in the passenger cabins of commercial airliners. 

http://www.aa.com/content/travelInformation/specialAssistance/serviceAnimals.jhtml

Emotional support service animals are service animals that provide emotional support to an individual with a mental health-related disability. Per the Department of transportation, we require appropriate documentation to permit emotional support animals to travel in the passenger cabin.

Specifically, we require a letter on letterhead from a mental health care professional (physician or psychologist) stating the following:

·        that the passenger has a mental health-related disability

·        a mental health-related disability (any individual who has a mental impairment that, on a permanent or temporary basis, substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment)

·        major life activities (functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and walking)

·        that the person providing the documentation is a licensed mental health care professional or physician

·        that the passenger is under his or her professional care for the mental health related disability for which the passenger needs an emotional support animal

·        and that having the animal travel with the passenger is necessary to the passenger's mental health and/or treatment or to assist the passenger with his or her mental health-related disability

All of the above specific criteria must be provided to accept your emotional support animal for travel in the passenger cabin.

Get the Book!

Helping Hooves The Guide Horse Foundation Training Program to Train  Miniature Horses  as Guide Animals for the Blind Janet Burleson ISBN Retail Price $27.95 Order this book now and get 20% off the retail price! Only $19.95 Order Now!   Read the compelling story of the first miniature horse trained to work as a guide horse. Learn the exciting methods used to prepare the tiny horses to perform these amazing services.   A portion of the proceeds from sales will benefit the Guide Horse Foundation.     Quotes:   Janet Burleson is one of the world's pioneering horse trainers – Practical Horseman Magazine   Seeing is believing – USA Today   Janet and Don Burleson are  . . . Angels – People Magazine   How wonderful that Janet and Don Burleson have initiated this valuable experimental program teaming miniature horses with blind people – Newsweek   Miniature ponies are leading the way for the blind – ABC News   Guide Horses  . . . are as small and disciplined as Guide Dogs – TIME Magazine   Extraordinary – ABC 20/20   It is often the little things that win our hearts and minds – ABC News   The Burleson’s are . . . using horse sense to Guide – Boston Globe   Twinkie proved that miniature horses could fill the role, and fill it well – VetCentric Magazine   An Intriguing Program - Discovery Channel