My lovely horse (Picture: SWNS)

A blind man with a fear of dogs has been given the UK’s first guide horse.

Mohammed Salim Patel, a 23-year-old BBC journalist from Blackburn, Lancashire, was introduced to his new companion Digby on Monday.

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Digby, a two-foot-tall American Miniature horse, will help Mr Patel with daily tasks and household chores – just like a guide dog.

Mr Patel, who has a degenerative eye condition called Retinis Pigmentosa, told the Lancashire Telegraph: ‘I have a big phobia of dogs that I was not able to work out, and it was good when I heard about horses being trained.


‘I have always loved horses, but it is good to see the benefits to people who are visually impaired.’

So sweet and helpful – and small (Picture: SWNS)

However, although they’ve already been introduced, Digby won’t be able to live with Mr Patel for another couple of years because he’s still completing his training.

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Until then Digby lives with his owner Katy Smith from Northallerton in North Yorkshire.



She told the paper that there are even more miniature horses being trained in the US, and that they have a long life span of around 45 to 50 years.

‘Another thing is that people may have an allergy, phobia, or health reasons, and it is a choice for people,’ she added.