Horse For The Blind

2 days ago i traded horses. I had a TWH that was barn sour and was simply tired of fighting with him. So I saw a horse that was for sale, kid safe. I called the person and he told me that his horse had a little trouble seeing on the left side but rode fine. He was right, this was the best horse ever. She waited on my every comand and as gentle as a kitten. WE traded. I found out this weekend after taking her to the vet that she is completely blind. I was devestated that not only was the horse blind but this person would pull that over on someone. She has cateracts in both eyes so she looks completly normal.
I have fallen in love with her and I am going to keep her. She is really quite amazing and beautiful beyond words. It just made me so sad when we were riding Saturday and the grass was swaying and a butterfly took flight and Sugar could not see it. I wish she could see. I have decided that I will be her eyes, I will give her the wonderful life she deserves. Thank you

Sounds like you are a wonderflu person and that horse picked you wether you know it or not. God put you two together. I see no point in making a big deal, maybe he didn`t know how blind she was and if he did he will get his in the end, because somewhere down the road he will get the wool pulled over his eyes in return. Just be her friend and she will love you for it. Good Luck to you and hope she lives a long time for you.

2008-04-27 19:22:24 by Angie P

One woman in Chicago has found an original way to live with her disability. She is blind, and says her Muslim faith forbids the use of a guide dog ...

So we movied my horse to a boarding stable and 2 days later she got a puncture wound. We just decided that it wasn't the stables fault and kept her there. Then she got bit by a horse twice so she got moved to a different pasture. She was fine for a while and then I got a call from my mom after school yesterday saying that Mercedes (my horse) cut her eye open and is going to have to get it removed. The having to get it removed was said to my mom by the owner of the boarding stable. We took her to our local vet school (which has a really good eye department) and they tried to do an antibiotic thing but it didn't work so she is in surgery right now and they are trying to save her vision. Most likely she is going to be blind in her left eye. She couldn't see out of it when we went and picked her up to bring her to the hospital. I was wondering if there are anythings to think about when designing her stall at my house? She doesn't usually spook at things but she gets nervous. I don't know if it matters but she is a 6 year old, 15 hh, quarter horse. If you have any questions just ask, I will check back regularly. Oh and we think we figured out waht she cut her eye on, right by her feed bucket is a rusty, sharp, coroded, piece of metal.

Well, most horses will adapt well to partial blindness.

You will need to make sure that you are ultra tidy around her, that she knows where the water is, where the hay is etc. They will use their other eye and many top showjumpers have been blind in one eye. It is just a question of allowing the horse to adapt their way of going. If it needs to go with its head slightly to one side, then let it, do not force it to come down in to an outline (not right anyway, but less so for a partially blind horse). You should leave her whiskers and eyelashes on so that she has some warning when she comes too close to something and is unlikely to bump into things.

Always speak to her when approaching and approach her from her good side. You say it is the left eye, so you would need to retrain her to lead from the right and mount from the right. This should not cause too much problem as long as you are careful (as you should be anyway) not to kick her in the tummy or on the rump and unbalance her. Most horses will adapt to the change of sides.

When working on the roads, keep a contact on her but allow her to move her head and neck to see what is around her and always go with another rider, and wear a hi-viz jacket stating that your horse is partially blind and asking other road users to pass wide and slow.

I would lay off jumping for a few months until she is completely settled on the flat, and then allow her to approach small poles and fences.

And for God's sake and that of any horse, check the area around it and remove any potential hazzards!

I wish you and your horse well.

2010-02-12 11:37:22 by iluvmercedes

Price: $399.99 $236.99

Floor Space: 5 ft by 5 ft (25 sq ft)
Viewing/Shoot Through: 180 Adjustable
Colors: Ground Swat Camouflage

I have a 5 year old Arabian Gelding. He's almost blind in his right eye, he can still see shadows which scares the crap out of him. He's NOT broke yet, but I been lunging him on a lunge line. Currently working on both his good and bad sides.

I was wondering, once I'm able to get on him and ride him a bit. Is it possible for half blind horses to be able to learn to jump?

I've seen some pretty good jumpers who are partially blind.
It may take some extra work, but I don't see why he couldn't jump.

2009-02-05 18:14:34 by Marissa S

Price: $14.95

my 13 year old arabian went totally blind yesterday (the vet says its moon blindness). she is having a stressful time adjusting (understandable), if anyone has any suggestions on caring for a blind horse and making things easier, please let me know. i plan to put gravel by the fences so she can know where they are.

another problem is with her pasture buddy, he is a bully, but if i try to take him away she get upset and starts running into fences, even if i put a different horse with her. any ideas on what to do?

There are many horses that are blind that lead long happy lives. Horses most animals can adjust very well (unlike humans they don't miss or complain about what they've lost and instead concentrate on using what they have.)

I've worked with 2 blind mares, one older (in her early 30's when she lost her sight) that was no longer ridden, she stayed alone in her own special paddock next to the other horses, close enough for company but not able to chase or kick her. Just had to make sure everything stayed the same and things like her hay, water, food ect stayed in pretty much the same location.

The other was a younger show mare that after a period of adjustment went on to continue showing and being reasonably successful at it.

I would for now at least try to keep her with the horse she's with. In a way it's good that he is alpha as she already knows to follow his lead ect. Right now she feels sage safe with him to guide her -- hence the panic when he's gone. I've saw people put bells on the companion horse so if the blind one gets seperated they can easily locate it again.

Also be very sure to always talk around her so she knows where your located at all times, scrub your feet slightly when you walk near her so she'll know where your moving to ect.. If she's still adjusting and afraid and you walk up without her knowing and touch her it might startle her into kicking in self defense.

A goat might be a good idea but you'll need to leave it until she actually gets attached to it before removing the other horse or she'll panic again.

2008-06-18 09:34:15 by Lizzy

We recently adopted a horse that is blind in one eye. We had the vet look at the eye, and he suggested that because of her age,not to have the eye removed. She is excellent with all 5 of our kids. Best horse you could ever want. I can put a two year old her with the reins, and she will do nothing other than follow me around the yard, stopping when I stop. I like to take her on trail rides behind the house. We have BLM land directly behind and I can ride to my hearts content. Problem is, every little shadow on the "blind side" tends to spook her. Normally I can talk to her and she settles right down, but on occasion, we rodeo. This is my first experience with a "handi-abled" horse and I am looking for ideas as to how to help her cope.

It may be that she still detects light on her retina. She may not be able to percieve fine details and therefore is blind in that eye but there is a possibility that she can still be "blind" but able to detect movements and shadows in her visual field, thus causing her to spook.
You could try covering her eye with a small towel while you are riding to prevent ANY light passing to her retina or buy a blinker or something for that eye.
It might work and it's worth a try!!!
Good Luck :)

2007-05-15 14:26:19 by Barbie