Just got some super discouraging news about one of my horses...

[bufforp89]

Quote:
This is exactly how I feel about it. Its not fair to send her to a new home. Not to mention that she is dangerous and will only get worse. There is no way that anyone is ever riding this horse, she is just to high strung/nervous. Maybe if she was being ridden before becoming blind but actually training her to ride? Out of the question, I just don't have the resources.

Im thinking fencing is going to become a issue as well as time goes on, she sees it now but its not feasible to replace all my electric poly-wire with board or more solid fencing.

 

[welsummerchicks]

All horses do not adjust to blindness. Some do, and some don't. Being an Appaloosa doesn't mean she will necessarily adjust to blindness. One poster said, 'an Appaloosa can overcome anything' - that isn't true. Some blind Appaloosas adjust, and some do not. As with all blind horses.

But you don't necessarily see a lot of bumping in to things and similar such behavior as a horse loses its sight. Horses 'feel' their way around through lots of things by memory, scent, experience and following other horses, as well as their sense of touch - their muzzles are very good at sensing where an object is in the dark, for example.

It's also completely possible that her nervous behavior has absolutely nothing to do with her blindness.

She may simply be a nervous or higher energy horse - she may have been roughly handled in the past, causing her to be nervous, or she may be on a diet that doesn't work for her - some horses become very restless on a given feed or pasture plant. Some for example are very exciteable and nervous if they get corn, molasses or alfalfa.

The blindness, could, in fact, have nothing to do with her behavior.

It is true, however, that blindness is more common in Appaloosa horses.

Blind horses CAN be trained, in fact they often get trained with very little difference from training a sighted horse, since horses use all their senses so much. Routine seems to do well by them, but there even are a few completely blind dressage horses competing - years ago at the top (Grand Prix) level of dressage there was a horse that only saw out of one eye.

Your situation is a good warning to all to have a veterinarian carefully and thoroughly examine any horse they get - even for free or at low cost. Otherwise it's often the owner that is 'saddled' rather than the horse. Saddled with a health problem he didn't expect.

It isn't hopeless for your blind/going blind horse. You may learn to handle and train the horse yourself.

If you really can't seem to get along with or train the horse and/or keep her safe and predictable to handle, and there is no rescue that will take her - many rescues can't or won't place blind or sick horses and 'blind horse rescues' are very few and far between - and do please keep in mind, even if a rescue does seem willing to take her, all rescues are not good rescues. If none of those options are possible the best option is to have the horse humanely euthenized on your property and disposed of as local laws require.

 

[ArkaFarmaMama]

Bufforp I feel your pain!
We bought a pony for my daughter for Christmas. Have had horses all my life and
this little girl was doped to the hilt to cover her COPD, she was riddled with lice but had
been slightly deloused so I couldn't tell, and had a little bit of a cloudy eye that had
"always been that way". She was so gentle and the beautiful that I overlooked the
eye issue. The people even had pictures of handicapped children riding her!
With all the other problems manifesting after we got her home, we struggled
but got her under control, but her eye progressively got worse and now she is 1/2 blind.
It wouldn't be a problem but even with my most ardent efforts she has become dangerous
and spooky on her blind side and will throw my daughter if she feels threatened.
I can't possibly find her a home with all of her other issues and she isn't safe.
She is also an appy, welsh, paint cross and it makes no difference what they are if they
don't handle it well. Well trained or not.
So it's only a matter of time before we will have to put her down. Right now she is a pasture
ornament, feed/vet bill, that is preventing us from getting a more suitable mount for our 6
year old daughter who LOVES to ride with us.

I know other horses can overcome blindness and do great things, others can never be relied
on to be safe around humans and themselves.

It's a HARD awful decision but follow your heart. I know how bad it hurts!

 

[canesisters]

Don't know if this will help or hurt, and like someone else said - it depends on the particular horse / how 'handel-able' she was prior to loosing her sight / how much time can be put into her care now / etc.
That being said - I bought a rescue draft mule several years ago. He was WAY underweight and had been abused. He was afraid of being handled and reacted by simply running over you. He had scaring over the center of both of his eyes - as if something had been sprayed in his face and burned his eyes. He could see a little bit up and down but not ahead. It took several months to gain his trust - (and I had hours every afternoon to mess with him.) He eventually learned to trust me and became the BEST trail 'horse' I have ever had. When we went out, he'd truck along with his big 'ol ears hanging out sideways. I'd keep a close eye on the trail ahead and if I saw anything that might be a problem I'd pick up the reins a little. His ears would snap to attention and he'd slow way down, feeling for the root or gully or whatever. Once we passed it he'd settle back into his version of a running walk and off we'd go. He was totally in LOVE with my pony (even though she didn't return the affection one bit) so I put a small bell on her halter and she (unwittingly) led him to and from the barn - and all over the pasture - every day.
I say all this to encourage you that just because your mare is blind, does not mean that she is beyond use or help. Going to a new home is not necessarly a trama or disservice to her. My John Henry blindly endured his abusive home, an auction, a temporary spell in the yard of the folks who resuced him, and then arriving with me - and he eventually not only bloomed but learned a new 'career' (I'm not convinced that he was even slightly green broke when I got him).
Continue to seek advise and help. You will settle on a solution that will do right by your mare and feel right in your heart.

 

[Kelly G]

Be careful of anecdotal evidence. There will always be people with success stories, but they are the exception for this unfortunate circumstance.

A blind horse is much more than a huge responsibility...it is also a huge liability. You have to ensure the individual horse's safety, then the safety of the other animals, but then - the safety of people exposed to this horse.

Some horses adjust. Most don't. Those that are able to adjust require lots of vigilence - and maybe some extra liability insurance.

A responsible vet will probably recommend euthanasia.

Good luck - I know this cannot be easy for you. Shame on the people who sold her to you.

 

[zzGypsy]

lots of good advice here already so I won't repeat what's been said, just add this:

if you DO find a rescue that would take this horse, make sure you ask about their success with blind horses and GET REFERENCES you can speak with, or blind horses they've handled that you can go see yourself.

nervous horses are one thing, nervous blind horses are another. I'd have real reservations about the unknown future and safety of the horse and handlers if they're not experienced in the specific issues this horse has.

I've done some rescues myself, abused, starved, mistreated horses with major trust issues and nervous temperments, but I'd still be very cautious about taking on one with a significant and progressing disability I have no experience with.

I've seen some folks who are good-hearted and willing to try even though they're not equipped - that's dangerous. I've seen some resuce folks who talk a good story, but are not at ALL what they present themselves to be... instead are horsetraders or hoarders. this is why, if you find a rescue, you need to REALLY research them. the saddest horses seem to bring out the creeps and crazies as well as the loving-but-unprepared from the "rescue" network.

JMO, but if you can't find a rescue that is *qualified with references you check yourself*, putting the horse down may be the best solution. too many animals go to what people hope are good homes/rescues, only to be out of the frying pan and into the fire. a gentle death may be a better solution than a traumatic future.

hoping you can find a right home to take on this horse's needs, and if you can't, that you can find peace with the alternative hard decision.

 

[Bossroo]

I would heartily recomend that you DONATE this mare to a University Vet. School. This would help teach the Senior Vet. students what to look for in a going blind horse, she will be well taken of, plus you will get a tax write off for the donation. Win, Win, Win ! Good luck.

 

[welsummerchicks]

Few universities take horse donations, the universities that do are overwhelmed with people trying to donate horses, so check with the university before loading up the horse.

Also, find out how the horse will be used - it may be used for medical tests that could involve some unpleasantness for the animal, or the animal may be put to sleep very shortly, not kept around to frolic in a green pasture for years. Make sure you know what's going to happen to the horse.

 

[Bossroo]

Where I live way out West ... NO rescue will take a horse as they are overloaded with them. All of them are begging for money to puchase feed and basic nececities of housing, medication and care. Will this mare be better off there, probably not. As a result, people are dumping horses on other peoples' property ( I have first hand experience in someone dumping a badly injured 2 year old colt on my property... long story short, it cost me over $3,000 and almost 5 months to legally give him away). The other alternative is to put this mare down then be buried. A major expence to the owner with no redeaming benefit to the owner or the horse much less any other horse. So what if the University does research on a donated horse. The study will help educate the Veterinary students, as well as the other practicing Veterinariens, and help other ill/ suffering horses through correct diagnosis or new medications or treatments. All a matter of priorities and perspective... Still a Win, Win, Win !

 

[E.M. Silkies]

I am so sorry to hear your sad news. It's always heart breaking to receive a bad report on your special animals. I learned to ride on a Appy that was blind in one eye but luckily, it didn't bother him at all. He just went right along pretty as you please anywhere I wanted to go and at any gait. However, as he got older, he went blind in the other eye and he became nervous and agitated. He began to stumble a lot and bump into things. It became a hazardous situation for not only him but the other horses and people around him. The owners had to make the tough decision to put him down but all in all, it was the best decision for their situation. My mom also owned a horse a long time ago that was also a great riding horse. He would go anywhere and everywhere but went blind out of the blue. He became dangerous to my mother because he would flip out whenever he was approached by a human. He was not retrainable. I don't want to be the downer here but if she is already having behavior issues, it will most likely get worse. Her quality of life will continue to decline and her level of danger to people around her will increase. Don't feel bad about considering euthanasia, it is probably going to be the best-and safest decision- decision for the horse and the people who are around her.