Cataracts

[woodnymph]

HI, Have seen a pony for my daughter. Excellent school master but is 17 and vet has found cateracts, they are not effecting his vision at the moment. Should I take the risk. Anyone had any experience with this.
Cheers

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Cataracts can stay small in which case the horse can cope with the slightly distorted vision. But if you ask the vet for a more detailed opinion, they will tell you that cataracts can also progress, like in humans, to the point where the horse will be virtually blind. At 17 (possibly older unless his owners know his history from birth) I would, sadly, guess that the cataracts would eventually progress. I don't think there's any way of knowing how long this may take and you could be lucky enough to have 5 years or more yet. In 5 years, your daughter could be ready to move on to a larger horse. Didn't the owners tell you the pony had cataracts? Surely they knew because if you peer into the eye you can see the cloudiness there. TBH it's a big risk at that age.

 

[GreedyGuts]

I would avoid him personally.

It is not possible to predict the speed at which they will progress, so you could end up with a pony with impaired vision in a short period of time. It's difficult to assess how much sight a horse has, you can really only say if they can see or not, and as sight gradually deteriorates a horse's temperament can change dramatically.

On the positive side, if you are still really keen cataract surgery is possible (I think it is only done in Liverpool though), and is very successful, but obviously expensive. If you are still thinking of going ahead it would probably be worth asking the owners to get his eyes checked over by a specialist; an ultrasound scan of the eye would give more information on what's going on, and whether he might be a candidate for surgery.

Hope that is helpful.

 

[woodnymph]

many thanks for your advice, think I may have to walk away my daughter will be be mad but hey goes with the teritory of having a 13 year old!

 

[ladyt25]

There will be horses out there without cataracts, just tell yourself that. It's a risk you have to weigh up I guess. My older pony has mild cataract in one eye but it doesn't seem to have progressed and he's 22 and fine with it. Still, I've had him since he was 7.

I think best to keep looking really. After all, why take on a horse that you know already has problems when you can find one without?

 

[stroppymare153]

Nearly 7yrs ago we bought a 6yr old with a cataract in one eye - after discussing it with the vet. We used to be paranoid about it but she was never bothered by it and has done all sorts. If only in one eye then, especially in an older horse, if everything else about the horse is perfect I would be tempted to go for it - horses can manage fine with only one eye (at least three 3* eventers have only one eye!) - but it has to be your decision! Won't be covered by insurance though! Good luck whatever you decide.