Would you do this to your horse...?

Question

If your horse went blind in one eye or both, would you put him/her down?? Someone I know said they would do that if that's what her horse's case was[we think she may be going blind in her left eye] and she said she would put her down if that was true! I think that is so mean! I mean she maybe 16 but she has SO MUCH life still in her, how could someone think that is best for her or her horse?!? I mean it's not really my business but I do help feed her everyday and i've known her for 11 years and the woman is my family and i know how she will be if she actually does it. She'll regret it big time, and then she will just be sad and talk about the mistake she made. If she decides to do it, should I warn her that she is going to regret it big time? Or just leave it?

Answer 1

h**l No, I own an appy who is blind in one of his eyes. He is the best horse ever! Blindness in one eye is no problem at all. I ride my horse all the time in differnent disciplines and i cant even notice it! I surprise people all the time who tell me how great he looks and how beautiful he rides and i tell them he has a blind eye. You can  notice it and it doesnt effect him in the least, in fact i believe it makes him a better horse because he really follows cues better on his blind side facing the outside of the arena cause he trusts me. That is just crazy that she would put the horse down. Some people just dont deserve a good horse! Oh by the way my horse is 20! and going stronger than many 10 year old horses i have seen!

She will regret it, dont let her do it! I hope i dont sound to strong, but i was in the same situation :D

~2htoohorse~

Answer 2

I would never do that! I read a true story about a blind horse, and the person telling it said that she had no idea it was blind because the horse acted the same as any other. It was perfectly healthy (other than the blindness of course), and it acted exactly the same as all the other horses who could see perfectly fine.

I think you should warn her. She will rlly regret it if she does, and it isn't very fair for the horse. She could probably get someone to help or something. There's no reason for putting her horse down just because the horse may be going blind. Best of luck!

Answer 3

I would never put a horse down unless the animal is suffering. You might ask if you can help her find a home for her instead of having her put down. Blind horses can live long productive lives. Animals can adapt better than we can.

Answer 4

if the pasture she is in is 110% safe, and she has a companion to help her around, i'd keep her alive. but thinking about it again, it is going to be extremely difficult for a horse to get around even if it is blind only in one eye, because then they can't see in front or that whole side of their body. but then again, it can happen. watch "the Long Shot". it's about how a horse went partially blind and it turns out to be one of those heart- warming stories... you get the picture.  

Answer 5

I would attempt to bell another animal for that blind animal to follow.

If that didn't work, yes I would put the blind animal down.

I have been around a blind mule from herpes,  its heart breaking and that mule was not enjoying life.  It was a constant stress for her walking around and into fences.  She was put down due to her blindness.

EDIT- I wouldn't put an animal down that was blind in one eye however.  The above was for ones that have lost complete vision.

Answer 6

if your horse is blind in one eye you dont need to put it down youll find there is heaps of horses around with only one eye and they are fine people even still ride them but if your horse goes blind in both eyes it would be cruel not to put it down your horse wouldnt be able to find water it would run into the fences you cant keep a completely blind horse alive it is extremely cruel sorry luv but if thats the case your freind would be doing the right thing sometimes bad things happen and you cant do any thing to stop them leah

Answer 7

Until i was in her shoes im not sure what id do to be honest.

Blindness in one eye wouldnt really bother me i would still keep her but both eyes is a bit different.

Answer 8

There are a lot of horses blind in one eye and they do just fine. I have a friend that has a horse that is almost totally blind.

She has her in a pasture with another horse and she put a bell on the other horse. The blind horse follows her around from the sound of the bell. If the horse is only blind in one eye, that is not a good reason to euyhanize her.

Answer 9

if it was one eye, then no all the way, unless the horse was in major pain or discomfort. if it was both eyes, then I would think carefully about what quality of life she would have, because she would nto be able to go out in the field, and barely beable to find her water trough, so possibly, but it all depends on what would be best for her, and how her qualityof life was. In the case you are outlining, then no. You should warn your friend. Even if the horse is blind in one eye, then you can still ride it etc

Answer 10

Putting a horse down for loss of eyesight is not really reasonable, because it can still take walks to get exercise, even though the horse can't be ridden.

Answer 11

If she is just blind in one eye then she shouldn't put her down. She can still see out of the other eye. So she still has vision. However, I would rather seen her take responsibility for her and have her put down as to take her to an auction and through her away.

Answer 12

I think it would be horrible if someone where to put there horse to sleep just because she went blind. I know many horses that are still ridable yet blind. Most horses that have no sight still live a very fulfilling life. I think if your friend truly loves her horse she wouldn't put her to sleep for a silly thing like that.

God Bless!

Answer 13

warn her. if she is going to regret it for the rest of her life, better safe then sorry. you can't take that back once a horse is gone he is gone so warn her  

Answer 14

MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T DO IT!!!!

There is this one horse at my barn that has an eye infection and they think she might go blind if it does not heal up soon. But they are not putting it down because the horse is still rideable and very nice.  

Answer 15

I personally wouldn't do it, not with any animal, but I don't presume that I have the right to judge what another may do in the same circumstance.  No one can really know what is going on in the heart and mind of another...now, if someone is willing and able to adopt a blind animal and make a good, loving home for it, then, and only then do they have the right (and the responsibility) to step up and make the offer, without being judge mental.  If not, and if not asked for your opinion, MYOB.

Answer 16

No, I wouldn't put the horse down.  I had a pony that went blind in one eye because he was running behind my mare and something put his eye out.  After he was treated and the eye healed, you would hardly know he was blind in that eye.  You should talk to her and maybe if she still wants to put the horse down, talk her into finding a good home for it.  What a waste of a perfectly good horse.  By the way, our neighbor's horse is 32 years old, blind in both eyes and is the perfect pasture companion for their other horse.

Answer 17

absolutely not. just because they have gone blind does not mean they still cant be ridden and function as they used to. sure it will be an adjustment but the horse will be fine if taken care of. i have ridden blind horses in shows and on trail. one just started getting moon blindness and the other was completely blond, no eyes. they were great horses.

Answer 18

I would say something. I know a horse who started to go blind around 16 when I owned him- he's 31 now and still able to be ridden on trails and lives a very full life. Who would have thought? Sometimes they need a "companion" animal that can see to help them out. I've seen blind horses out with goats, minis and even a cat to help guide them. I don't believe blindness in a horse that has never been ridden anyway is a valid reason to put him/her down.  

Answer 19

I have a 14 year old horse that is blind in one eye.  He might have been blind in it for as long as a year before I realized he couldn't see out of it.  So, obviously, I wouldn't put down a blind in one eye horse.

However, if this horse were to go blind in the other eye too, then I'd have some tough decisions to make.  My pasture is not at all suitable for a blind horse - it's got steep hills and lots of trees.  Ideally, I'd be able to find a place to take him, or maybe I could fence of a small paddock in one of the less steep areas for him.  I wouldn't want to put him down, but I think it has to remain as an option if/when the time comes, if no other options work out.

Answer 20

I used to ride a one eyed horse at the school - she was fantastic, they still have her and said they would never part with her ( my friend offered her a retirement home) She still does jumping lessons even.

So, if it was one eye then yes I'd keep the horse and try to be as normal as possible with it. If t was both - I'd have to think long and hard about it but I guess I would rather have him put to sleep than to see him trying to adapt to that.

Answer 21

warn her for sure she could maybe take classes for blind horses you know what i mean...

Answer 22

Personally I wouldn't do it.  There's a 28 year old gelding at our Pony Club who had one eye removed about 6 years ago.  He's taught dozens of kids to ride and he's still going strong - he jumps with his current rider and he's one of the fastest jumping ponies I've ever seen.  He has a very useful and fulfilling life and he is guaranteed a good future.

However - in my opinion, it is better for an owner to consider putting a horse down if they feel they will be unable to care for it.  The horse isn't that young - fair enough she may have years left in her as a companion but if she can't be ridden she doesn't have a very useful future ahead of her as far as getting anything back for the emotional and financial investment involved goes.  I'd much prefer to see someone make a decision to put the horse down rather than pass it on as a companion - that's likely to mean many changes of ownership and possibly dwindling care; who knows where she might end up?

I know it appears cruel - and it does depend on personal circumstances - but it takes guts to consider ending the life when you can be in control of it, instead of sentimentally hoping someone else can deal with it when you can't.  The owner has had the horse a long time, the decision won't be made lightly.

Answer 23

no there is no need to put them down, mums horse is partially blind in one eye and hes great, does eventing, shows everything yea but ive known horses that are both blind and have learnt to find things over time  

Answer 24

Ask her if she would go out and shoot someone just because they were going blind.  

Answer 25

It would definitely be a mistake to put down a horse at that age for losing eyesight, no matter if it is one or both eyes. I've worked with a few blind horses, even rode them, you just have to act as their seeing eye dog, don't take them in to difficult terrain, clear trails/dirt roads do just fine, arena is always an option. Just now at the place i work we have a gelding who lost his right eye as a colt, he got kicked, I ride him a lot and he's actually a pleasure to work with, only thing he does is he's keeping his head always a bit to the right so he can look forward with his remaining left eye, and as long as I give him the freedom to do that he's very pleasant. Animals can cope much better with those handicaps then humans.

And if she's only used as a companion horse that's one less reason to kill her, and if she can stay in the field she knows she wont run into fences either.