Miniature horses in light GA planes?

ChasenSFO

ChasenSFO

hen teaser
This is very random, but next month I need to take a mini-horse flying for a music video. It will probably be in an older 172, maybe an SP. I've seen them fly commercial, and watched a 2 hour documentary about "Cuddles" the seeing eye mini horse which flies in a Colgan B1900 in the film, so it shouldn't be too hard I'm hoping. But I was wondering if any of you had any pointers for keeping it from making a mess/freaking out. By the off chance, I guess.

Thanks.
 
ChasenSFO said:
This is very random, but next month I need to take a mini-horse flying for a music video. It will probably be in an older 172, maybe an SP. I've seen them fly commercial, and watched a 2 hour documentary about "Cuddles" the seeing eye mini horse which flies in a Colgan B1900 in the film, so it shouldn't be too hard I'm hoping. But I was wondering if any of you had any pointers for keeping it from making a mess/freaking out. By the off chance, I guess.

Thanks.
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I have horses. I would never do it. I can't imagine many things more dangerous than a horse having a meltdown in a confined space. Imagine a deranged lunatic going crazy with a hammer in your aircraft. That's what you are up against. They aren't dogs. They are prey and are programmed to freak out when scared. If you go ahead with this bad idea I suggest the involvement of a vet willing to pump this horse full of ace or other sedative.
 
I have some vet friends who can help, PM and I'll send you their contact info. I feel like it's not a great idea though... :(
 
Pilot Fighter said:
I have horses. I would never do it. I can't imagine many things more dangerous than a horse having a meltdown in a confined space. Imagine a deranged lunatic going crazy with a hammer in your aircraft. That's what you are up against. They aren't dogs. They are prey and are programmed to freak out when scared. If you go ahead with this bad idea I suggest the involvement of a vet willing to pump this horse full of ace or other sedative.
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The horse will have a handler/owner who runs a company renting out the horse and has agreed to allow it to be flown in the back of an airplane in the video. Obviously it won't be in the front. It isn't a full sized mini-horse either, it is a pony. If it needs to be mildly sedated for air travel, I'm sure it will be as they know what they're doing. I'm only really worried about the horse making a mess or damaging cosmetic stuff in the cabin, which is where I need advice as to pre-cautions to take. I figured they're a specialty animal and get shipped often, so somebody on here may have flown one.

It will be a simple flight really, and if the handler decides its a bad idea, I won't question his decision. As tempting as it will be to want to watch a mini horse float around in zero-G, I don't want to die.
 
ChasenSFO said:
The horse will have a handler/owner who runs a company renting out the horse and has agreed to allow it to be flown in the back of an airplane in the video. Obviously it won't be in the front. It isn't a full sized mini-horse either, it is a pony. If it needs to be mildly sedated for air travel, I'm sure it will be as they know what they're doing. I'm only really worried about the horse making a mess or damaging cosmetic stuff in the cabin, which is where I need advice as to pre-cautions to take. I figured they're a specialty animal and get shipped often, so somebody on here may have flown one.

It will be a simple flight really, and if the handler decides its a bad idea, I won't question his decision. As tempting as it will be to want to watch a mini horse float around in zero-G, I don't want to die.
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Shod or shoeless, their hooves could scuff plastic or tear vinyl or cloth. Compared to just about every other animal, horse manure isn't that offensive due to their hay/grass diet and inefficient digestion. Protect cloth from stains.

Equine terminology. Miniature horses are always called horses. Also, some folks might get a kick out of this. Horses that share the same father (sire) and different mothers (dams) are said to have a common sire but are not half-brothers/sisters. Horses from the same dam and different sires are half-brother/sisters. Horses with the same sire and dam are full brothers/sisters.
 
Why go through this horse-crap (pun intended there...)? Video editing software is pretty cheap. Go fly (without a horse). Film the shots you need to film. Then, film the horse. If you're really brave...film the horse in the airplane (but while on the ground). Seam the flying and the horse video together.
 
hook_dupin said:
Why go through this horse-crap (pun intended there...)? Video editing software is pretty cheap. Go fly (without a horse). Film the shots you need to film. Then, film the horse. If you're really brave...film the horse in the airplane (but while on the ground). Seam the flying and the horse video together.
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That sounds like a LOT less effort than actually flying with a horse. Of any size.

The inside of a small GA airplane is cramped, loud, full of vibration and strange sights. That is an "assault" on every sense (sight, smell, touch, sound) of the body. Animals are sensitive to what their senses tell them, I just can't see having [even a small] horse in a plane as being a very good idea.

A vet (preferably a vet familiar with GA airplanes) would probably be able to give you the best advice though.
 
A friend and his wife struck a deer in their car, and the deer came through the windshield into the passenger compartment. That thing practically killed them trying to get out. There's no opening the door in flight to let a panicked horse get out.
 
Sounds like a really bad idea to me.

Putting one in a cargo plane like a 1900 with some area to confine it while still having a little room to move is a whole lot different than sticking one in a confined 172, where it could kick the crap out of everything (including you) and probably put a hoof through the skin quiet easily.

I had a pony freak out on me in a horse trailer once, up on its rear feet whipping around, kicking and pawing at everything. I finally wrestled it down.....after it broke my thumb.
 
ChasenSFO said:
This is very random, but next month I need to take a mini-horse flying for a music video. It will probably be in an older 172, maybe an SP. I've seen them fly commercial, and watched a 2 hour documentary about "Cuddles" the seeing eye mini horse which flies in a Colgan B1900 in the film, so it shouldn't be too hard I'm hoping. But I was wondering if any of you had any pointers for keeping it from making a mess/freaking out. By the off chance, I guess.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

What the • bro? Seriously. Horses are the dumbest, most fickle animal out there. They are one step away from a completely wild animal. It is bad enough that people can take them onto public property. Because of horses mountain bikers are banned from 98.4 percent of the trails in the birthplace of mountain biking. They spook at nearly everything. I couldn't imagine taking one to the airport. Not to mention actually cramming it into a light GA aircraft.

 
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