cataracts - experiences

[smellsofhorse]

My warmblood who is around 18 to 20 has been treat for ringbone and arthritis in his coffin joins.
Insurance is about to finish, so long term he can have Bute as needed and cartrophen injections.
He is now a happy hacker.

He was always bomb proof but lately he has started spooking and seems to see things too late!
I got the vet to check his eyed, he has cataracts I'm bot eyes and floaters, right eye worse.
This will gradually get worse and he will eventually go blind.
Both leg issues and eye issues are just seeing how he copes and adapting work load.

Any experiences?
I know they can usually cope well with limited vision aslong as they are confident and know their surroundings and routine but now my worry is. I was considering moving him to a lovely local permenant turn out field when his arthritis meant only occasional or no work and he wouldn't have to come in at night where he gets stiff.
Leaving my other horses at the yard wth facilities.
But now I know his vision is bad I feel its move him now or not at all.
Move now and he can adapt to new home
Wait til he is worse and it will be harder for him to adapt in new surroundings.

Sorry I've rambled.
Thoughts?

 

[JavaJaneW]

One of my ponies has cataracts, discovered when he came home from being on permanent loan. Had the vet out as he was acting strange, head to one side, as if he couldn't see you. Around this time, the ponies 'escaped' (let out..) and a few weeks after, (yes, weeks later, the driver contacted me....long story) was told he had run into a car and scrambled over the top, I guess he didn't see it... thankfully he wasn't injured.
At that time he had one eye with partial vision (3 years ago) vet said it may get worse or not, depending if he had it for some time.
Now, his only sight is partial vision in one eye Blind in the other.
Mostly this doesn't bother him, he keeps close to the other two, however if they wander, he panics and runs around (it's not a large field so he soon finds them) He has crashed into a container when the ponies were spooked (he cut his eye and banged his knee) so we keep things out of the field or close to fence.
I wouldn't move him now, he is familiar with his surroundings but still does panic a bit (he is nervous pony anyway)

I'm very aware that this may be his last year, you can see both cataracts and I have to consider his quality of life, but meanwhile he is his normal self once you let him know you are around or want to groom him etc.
It's not really helpful to you, sorry

 

[smellsofhorse]

It's useful to hear your story.
Is you gelding retired from ridden work now?
It would be hard enough moving him now, he is out in a large group but is good friends with my other gelding.
So I would feel guilty enough but now with vision problems taking him away from his mate and not having him to help would be mean.

I just fear keeping him where he is where he has to come in at night in winter will not help his arthritis and stiffness and will slightly shorten his life.

 

[JavaJaneW]

Pretty much no ridden work. He is 16, welsh A, he worked in my RS for a few years but was always a fast forward going speedy type, perfect on LR though. I loaned him out for two years but I don't believe he was ridden then, just companion.
He still does love being tacked up, my granddaughter has ridden around on him (this was August last year)

but I wouldn't have him ridden out, he is very spooky and nervous and it isn't fair on him. Little ones can sit on him for a lead-about, he is fine with that.
He is just a pet now

I should also mention, he is arthritic and lives out

 

[smellsofhorse]

Cute picture. They look happy.
My gelding is a 17.2hh warmblood and a little older, both go against him.

I will do the best and right thing for him.
It's just waiting and seeing how he copes.

 

[smellsofhorse]

Bumping for any more experiences