Childrens pony - eyesight issue

McNally

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Some may remember my recent thread re my daugters pony. As far as i knew he was completely blind in one eye (offside) when we got and broke him in last year.
Recently we had a flare up of his UV and we were going to remove the eye. However the vet wanted that to be a very very last chance thing and kept trying different treatments. One finally seemed to work and he is now ok. She started riding him again.
Both my partner and me noticed a change in him during the weeks he was being treated. He became nervy and aggitated. He'd become terrified of any his blind side which before altho jumpy it wasnt dramatic jumpy! We both commented if the vets hadnt told us for certain a year before (and several times since) that he was blind we would have thought he'd JUST lost the vision.
Now he's being ridden the difference in him is huge. Before my daughter was able to do little no road hacks alone and longer rides with her friends.
He is so so spooky now but not only spooking but napping and whipping round at some speed. Even when he's going forward she's struggling with him, He's a stronng pony which previously wasnt a problem they had such an amazing bond and huge confidence in each other. He's always been fresh and lively but she loved it and i trusted him completely.
Today i hacked him as he was whipping round evry few strides so we swapped horses and OMG i was stunned at how difficult he is. I cant allow her to take him on the roads like this its not safe. it was an awful ride and i was glad to get home!
Any ideas?
 
What's he like with a trusted companion on his blind side? Mine had a very strong bond with an older mare who eventually lost most of her site. Old mare was fine when mine was around as she didn't feel vulnerable but otherwise had to be stabled. Or what's he like with you on the ground on his blind side? Maybe walking alongside to give him chance to adjust might help?
 
The vet suggested spring grass. Maybe? My field looks very bare and it just seems to be very that eye based if that makes sense? He's better with my horse along side, I try to get right against them so instead of spooking into the road he crashes into him! I wouldn't say he's less freaked out by things it's just he can't spin right round with a 16.2 hunter along side! Seeing him ridden I just hadn't realised how difficult and unsafe feeling he's become. If course it may well be to do with the fact he's done nothing this month due to his eye and a combination of spring maybe? Hope so. I guess I give up the ride on my gorgeous safety net and swap horses for a while!
 
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