UK: Indian-origin blind man becomes first to get 'guide horse'
What's the story
An Indian-origin man in north-west England, suffering from a degenerative eye condition, is set to become the first person in the UK to get a guide horse to assist him with daily tasks once he loses his vision completely.
Mohammed Salim Patel, a journalist based in Blackburn, Lancashire, suffers from a condition called "Retinitis Pigmentosa" due to which he will eventually become totally blind.
Fear of dog
Fear of dog resulted in the idea of miniature guide-horse
24-year-old Patel who suffers from a deep-seated fear of dogs since a scary childhood encounter, could not rely on the more commonly used guide dogs for the blind and that is how the concept of a miniature guide horse came to his attention.
"Digby (guide horse) is still a baby and will be two years old in May 2019," said Patel.
The guide horse
Digby can work more than guide dogs: Patel
Telling more about his guide horse, Patel said, "His training will take around two more years, so I expect to be able to bring him home to Blackburn once he's finished his training."
"There is no rush though, as Digby will be able to work into his 40s, whereas a guide dog has to retire at the age of eight," he said.
Companion's training
Patel believes a guide-horse has many added benefits over guide-dogs
After spending some time with his companion-to-be, Patel believes a guide horse has many added benefits over guide dogs, including a much longer working life and ability to see in the dark.
"Guide horses can work for a lot longer, therefore even if his training takes longer than two years, it doesn't matter. I'll have decades with him as my assistant animal," Patel explained.
The story of Digby
Amplifon Awards, honoring animals who transformed their owner's lives
The story of Digby caught the attention of the annual Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons, where the horse is among the finalists in the Hero Pet category aimed at honoring animals who have transformed the lives of their owners.
"It's very nice to have Digby recognized for his great work, despite still being in training. He's a star," said Patel, referring to the Awards.
Dream
How Patel got influenced to join journalism
The BBC journalist began working with his local station, BBC Radio Lancashire, before moving on to BBC North West Tonight TV after completing a Journalism Trainee Scheme.
"I found myself making documentaries on taboo subjects, and essentially creating journalistic pieces. This is when I strongly considered pursuing a career in journalism, as a journalist rather than a TV presenter," Patel said.
Difficulties
Patel was dedicated to complete his broadcast journalism course
However, Patel's journey wasn't easy, being told that a broadcast journalism course would be too difficult for a blind person to complete.
"I used my time at university to get as much broadcasting experience as I could. I was fortunate to achieve a First Class BA Honours in International Journalism and joined as a reporter at my local BBC radio station," said Patel.
Family background
India is a beautiful country that fascinates me: Patel
Talking about his family roots in Gujarat, Patel said, "I love visiting India as it's a beautiful country that fascinates me. I take every opportunity I can to visit my cousins who live there and to also visit the many different cities in India."
Patel said his mom was born in India and his dad has family in Gujarat too.