Looking for a tattoo artist in Oklahoma that would tattoo my paint horses eye. Can anyone help?

Question

I own a paint horse that has the pink pigment around his eye. I read an article in the paint horse journal (the link is below):

http://www.painthorsejournal.com/archives/pdfs/LinedUp-Aug00.pdf It talks about getting a tattoo around the horses eye to prevent future eye related health problems. I was wondering if you know of any place here in Oklahoma that would do tattoo work on horses? (preferably one with previous horse experiences) Any information on this subject would greatly help!!!!

Answer 1

Do not do that, can u imagine how painful that would be! Pink pigment is a trait that isn't bad, in fact it can be pretty.

Answer 2

thats crazy. tattooing horses. lol. you could probably talk to your vet and see (make sure they okay it too) or try google-ing it. i would see what the side affects and stuff are too and probably research it alot more!

good luck

Answer 3

what an interesting article!! i would contact your vet and get a reference. i would go for it. i doubt it would hurt the horse like it does a person if they are sedated.

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/sho...

Answer 4

Here is the lady who is doing my horse.  She is in Texas, but will travel and work with your vet.  Her website explains the procedure and the reasons it is benneficial.

http://www.perfectpermanentmakeup.com/Eq...

I tried the Equine Face Works mentioned by someone else, but they never returned my email or my friends email.  Might not be in business anymore.

My vet reccomended we have it done.  My mare is at high risk for cancer and she tears constantly  out of the white surrounded eye (her other eye has what looks like a tattoo arround it but is natural)  so I have an obvious example right on her face of how much difference the black surrounding the eye does.  And for a twist her white surrounded eye is brown and her black surrounded eye is blue.  I use sun screen and a fly mask, but the fly mask can not be worn all the time - it rubs and the sunblock can sweat into her eyes, so the most humane thing to do is the tattoo.

It is also is reccomended by the APHA.

It frustrates me how many people are so negative about it!!  I spend more on my horses health care then my own - I would never do anything that was not in her best interest.  Kuddos to you for doing the same.

Answer 5

the article relates information about a horse getting sunburned around the eye in a pink pigmented area of skin - not future eye related health problems - as I understood it.  I think this idea is ridiculous.  You did not say your horse was having the same problem of sensitivity so is this a cosmetic thing for you?  I thought this pigmentation was part of the allure of paints???  Have you thought about sunscreen with maybe a fly mask that has ultraviolet protection?  Seems much simpler to me and not so stressful for the horse.  It is constantly amazing to me the things people come up with in the pursuit of the dollar, with total disregard for the well being of the horse.  Sorry I didn't answer your question but it was just too outrageous not to draw a comment.  My final thought would be, paints have lived on the plains for centuries without the benefit of ink, and needles and tatoos, and other unnecessary human interventions.  That is the only "helpful" thing that comes to mind.

Answer 6

In the meantime, and I'm sure you do alreaddy, but just incase, a mask and sunscreen will do for temporary relief. Fly masks and sunscreen are only so good, often horses will lose them in the pasture without anyone knowing, if the eye is irritated many horses will rub with the mask on and the material will irritate it further.

I would ask your vet to check around. I don't think it's an awful thing when it's for the welfare of the horse, the horse is sedated and I'm sure the area is numbed. I would also prefer someone with previous horse experience.

Answer 7

This is a great idea.  I would contact your vet and ask them about this, and maybe also put the word out in the tattoo community to see who has experience tattooing animals.  You might try the BME website for that:  http://www.bmezine.com/

I think that if you can get your vet to OK the procedure and sedate your horse for you, it probably wouldn't be that hard to find an artist to come out to your place to do the work.  The tattooing itself would take 20 minutes or less - the real cost would be for the vet's sedation and for the artist's travel time.  The tattoo itself isn't going to hurt the horse much, if at all, once the artist finishes. Good luck!

Answer 8

you have plenty of great answers to this question.. i just wanted to thank you for putting up some a great topic - i have never heard of this and i have a paint.  at first the idea sounded horrible but it really does help to prevent health problems and issues with the sun similar to the black paint football players wear on their cheekbones.  good luck!!

this might seem "out there" but there is a show called Miami Ink that is based in Miami and LA (two different versions).  you might want to shoot them an email and tell them about this opportunity.  might get your horse on tv in addition to a free tattoo??

Answer 9

can't help you find a horse tattooer, but I wanted to let G.C. know that there is a problem with pink pigment around the eye - its very prone to tumors and cysts.  We have a mare who is scheduled for her second surgery in 4 years, on the same eye, to remove a tumor.

Answer 10

If it was me & my horses..... I would look into someone who tattoos make up on people. I have a good handful of tatts & that is my idea!!!! But I still don't see how putting dark ink will make for better portection from the sun??? Because my tattoos sun burn just like the rest of me. I have a Koi fish from my hip to my most of my butt cheek down my thigh. Some a few of my foods for thoughts...... Good luck!! Keep us posted on what you find!!!

*****edit*****

OMG!!! Some of these people act like the horses are going to die from this!!!!!!!!!! They tattoo the race horses lip!!!!!!

Answer 11

I too was actually thinking about that.

I have a perlino and the sun is torturous on the poor guy.

The ones that are saying "don't do it" have no idea what they are talking about as we both know.  Maybe a little education would benefit them.  

Here is one I found that may be close enough for you.

I was actually thinking about trucking my boy out there and staying til he got it done.

http://www.equinefaceworks.com/

They are in Kilgore Texas :)

***edit***

It's to prevent sun glare, not burn. It protects the actual eyeball from damage.

To all of you that have no clue what it's like for a horse with pink skin, white around the eyes, white eyelashes (and most of the time, blue eyes) you should not even put your two cents in.  A horse like this has no 'shadow' over the eye created by the black pigment thus causing 'burn' to the eye.  They have difficulty seeing, walk around with their eyes closed and get horrible burns.  Just sunscreen will not help alot of these guys, especially if they are in a state that has so much sun.  I use a mask on my guy daily along with sunscreen AND horse paint around the eyes.  I wish I could get a tattoo for him.  THEY ARE SEDATED PEOPLE! sheesh.

I thought horse people wanted to educate themselves..seems most can't get past their own feet nowadays!

Answer 12

If its to much trouble finding a tattooist for your horse, why don't you try just putting a little human sunscreen around the pink area to prevent sunburn. I've never heard of tattooing a horse but remember there are other options.

Answer 13

hmm..... i don't know anybody to do it for you.... but man!!!  Do you really wanna make your horse go through all that?!?!?  It hurts when a human gets a tattoo.... but eeeghggh... what about getting a really thick tattoo all over you eye!!  I know you're doing it for the welfare of your horse.... but it just seems really painful for him/her.

Answer 14

you are crazy i can understand mabey if it was for sure going to protect the eye from further infections but still you dont know if this article is true so i would say dont do it