Any advice for my horse who has only 40% of his eyesight?

Question

My horse is 28 and a 17.1hh TB X Holstein.I just had the vet out for his annual flu vaccination.Whilst the vet was there I asked him to check my horse's eyes as he had bumped them a couple of times and had a corneal ulcer last summer.I expected him to say they were totally fine but to my shock the vet said that my horse's left eye has few blood vessels running to the back of the eye meaning his sight is poor.His right eye has the start of a cataract and the sight is also poor.He said that my horse probably has only about 40% of his vision and that he will be fine for now but just to watch out for him bumping into things as this will mean his sight has reduced further.He said as long as he stays at the same yard and in the same paddock he will cope fine but to move him to another yard would be very hard as my horse would find it difficult to find his bearings.My horse has been at his present yard for nearly 8 years and I have no intention of moving him.Has anyone got any useful advice?

Answer 1

try to put tanbark about 4 feet long around any obstacles in the paddock.  prepare him for losing his eyesight, as it is failing.  and try to keep his routine the same every day.

Answer 2

Yes, watch your step!

Answer 3

My guess is that it was a gradual loss. If it was sudden he would have been agitated and really bumping into things. Watch to see if he has a problem going from light to shade, being confused, etc. The only thing you can do is care for him and keep him comfortable. Remember he needs familiarity in his surroundings, meals and meal times and love from you. Good luck.

Answer 4

My mare has a corneal degeneration so she is slowly losing her eye site.  She is very careful around fences because she is scared of running into the electric wire.  She is not stalled she has a shed she can go in but she is very bossy around other horse.  I think some of it is she is scared of them and uses her fear as aggression.   I have noticed her loss of site most on the trail.  She used to not baulk at anything.  Now if it is windy and the trees are blowing she gets nervous.  

Also the farm I used to work at had a horse completely blind in the left eye.  They used him for jumping and riding and he was fine.  He was a little nervous of horses on the left side but he was a good boy over all.  

If he is bumping his head alot maybe get a head bumper they used for trailering. You can also put mats on the walls so it is not as hard of a surface to hit.  Always put his food in the same spot so he knows where to go.  Keeping things the same is the best thing to do.  A lot of horses can survive with little eye site.  Just build your trust with your horse so he will let you be his eyes and trust you when he might be scared.  

I hope this helps

Answer 5

Bumping Aid:  A head bumper with eye cups til he gets adjusted.

For a horse going blind and you have no plans on moving him to a new pasture area...this is what you do:

Lay gravel around the perimeter of the fence line.  About 6' wide.  This is so when he starts getting to the fence he steps on the rocks and that warns him.

By the time he is fully blind he will know instantly and you will have no problems.

Do the same around trees.

Have a chime up by the water so he can find it.

Banging cans in his run/in so he can find that easily.

I'm sorry to hear of this.  You will work it out though.

I have a friend with a blind mare and this is what she had done and she still rides the mare out on trails!  Complete faith and trust in her rider!

just thought of something else...A bell around his buddy in the pasture.  This way he can always find them.

Answer 6

don't move things in his stall if he knows where they are. jsut take it slow with him, and become his sight. he'll start to depend on you.

Answer 7

He has likely adjusted as time went on.

I have two one-eyed horses, and my friend has one as well.

They are all three safe rides who lost their sight on one side at different stages in their lives.  All three have compensated differently.

Keeping him at the same yard is the best for him, and if he has a fully sighted buddy you might start now with a bell on the buddy or something he can identify with if he continues to lose sight.

Answer 8

If possible, get another horse for him. By that, I mean that you should try to find another horse buddy to stay in his pasture with him. In case your horse goes blind, the horse might help out by leading him around the paddock. I hope this helps, and good luck.

Answer 9

Poor guy, I wouldn't worry too much - he should be fine.  I have heard of people who bought horses they used for trail riding, jumping, all sorts of things, that ended up being stone blind without anyone knowing it.  I agree, moving him would be hard on him and I'm glad you're staying put.

Does your horse have a buddy, or could he acquire one?  If he has a (seeing) friend he always hangs out with, that will help him very much in feeling more confident about his surroundings.  I have also heard of people putting gravel along the perimeter of their fencing so the horse would know where the fence ends.  Just give him extra time to assess new situations, and make sure anyone who handles or who comes into contact with him knows about his condition and what side it's on so that they know to behave accordingly.  You might put a sign on his stall near the latch so that anyone taking him out will be sure to see it.

Good luck, he should do just fine!

Answer 10

Just listen to your vet and HORSE.  Don't go moving his stall or anything in it.  Leave his food and water alone .... Walk a little slower .... be aware of what is around you when you are leading or riding him ... you will have to become his eyes ... watch his ears ... he could become more spooky ... which will be natural ...... a calming pet and kind words .... if you give him your confidence and stay the loving alpha of the relationship you guys should be fine!

I know 2 horse totally blind in one eye (actually one is missing an eye) and 2 that can't see well .... and they all 4 do well .... the one with no eye rides up and down the trails ALL the time ....