Does anyone know anything about horses losing their sight?

PogoPumpkinBecky

PogoPumpkinBecky

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We arn't sure whether she is losing her sight but she hasn't been herself the last few months and she has been worse the last few weeks.
When being ridden she is tripping alot more than usual, and when she is jumping she will spook and look around and not focus on the jump until it is directly in front of her, and then she will either jump it or stop (she has been a very successful sj pony in the past, and very bold at xc too).
she also seems to not be able to find certain things, such as i usually put her food bowl in the same place in the field, but have recently moved it and she could not find it without me leading her to it even though it was only 4-5metres away. she is also fairly more spooky out hacking even if there is absolutely nothing there on tracks she is familiar with (she has always had the odd spook at birds flying out etc) but never like she is now.
at first we just thought it was time of year or a phase she is going through, but after not being able to find her food(which she is normally very good at!)we started to think there was maybe more to it?
might just be being fussy, but shes not herself, just thought i would see what people on here think before calling the vet out to check her, she doesn't appear to be in any pain.
 
While you wait for the vet you can do some basic tests yourself. Check her "startle" reflex by standing in the stable with her and bringing one hand vary fast right up as if you're going to smack her one in the eye. Stop a millimetre away (obviously!). She should "startle" back, ie jump or throw her head up. Do it both sides. You have to be careful because a horse that's been struggling with sight (or any horse!) can feel the air moving when your hand is coming up and will jerk away because of that. Worth a try though.

The 2nd thing to try is to set up an obstacle course in your school. Put odd objects in there eg poles making a narrow channel to see if she can walk down, a pushchair to be walked round, sack of feed, pile of buckets, upside down wheelbarrow, etc etc etc. Stuff she wouldn't expect to see in the school. Walk her round - both reins - and see if she bumps into things or can negotiate them. Watch how she looks at them. Is it one-sided? How close does she get before she jumps out of her skin at finding something there? Does she see it, then lose it as she gets closer, then see it again? This is in no way definitive but it should give the vet some background info to work with x
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
While you wait for the vet you can do some basic tests yourself. Check her "startle" reflex by standing in the stable with her and bringing one hand vary fast right up as if you're going to smack her one in the eye. Stop a millimetre away (obviously!). She should "startle" back, ie jump or throw her head up. Do it both sides. You have to be careful because a horse that's been struggling with sight (or any horse!) can feel the air moving when your hand is coming up and will jerk away because of that.
Click to expand...

This sounds like an aggressive menace response test.

Hold you hand about 20cm away from the eye,palm facing towards the eye which you fingers spread open wide. The steadily wave your hand towards the eye until about 5cm away. This sounds be enough to elicit a response from the horse in the form of a slow-brisk blink reflex. The wide open fingers minimise draught onto the eyelashes, ruling out detection of movement that way!


I would try this not the former as there's not need to scare the horse to death and to be honest I'd be worried about an extreme response by the horse, whacking his head on the poll or the hand not stopping that 1mm away....plus you'll be touching eyelashes by then!! But I get the point....just do it a bit gentler and calmer!!!
 
PogoPumpkinBecky said:
We arn't sure whether she is losing her sight but she hasn't been herself the last few months and she has been worse the last few weeks.
When being ridden she is tripping alot more than usual, and when she is jumping she will spook and look around and not focus on the jump until it is directly in front of her, and then she will either jump it or stop (she has been a very successful sj pony in the past, and very bold at xc too).
she also seems to not be able to find certain things, such as i usually put her food bowl in the same place in the field, but have recently moved it and she could not find it without me leading her to it even though it was only 4-5metres away. she is also fairly more spooky out hacking even if there is absolutely nothing there on tracks she is familiar with (she has always had the odd spook at birds flying out etc) but never like she is now.
at first we just thought it was time of year or a phase she is going through, but after not being able to find her food(which she is normally very good at!)we started to think there was maybe more to it?
might just be being fussy, but shes not herself, just thought i would see what people on here think before calling the vet out to check her, she doesn't appear to be in any pain.
Click to expand...

I went through something similiar myself a few months ago when I'd convinced myself that my horse had an eyesight problem as he could be extremely spooky and I kept giving him the benefit of the doubt, he was worse on the right rein than the other. When I asked the vet approx a year ago to check his eyes when he came out for something else he told me that he had extra layer of cells over his cornea called an epitheral layer. As the shying and continually spooking had continued I did some digging. I got into conversation via email with Prof. Knottenbelt from Liverpool who said he would be happy to see the horse as these extra layers could denote a tumour at the back of the eye. In order to make doubly sure there was a problem and to feel reassured that I wasn't wasting the kind Proffesors time I got a different vet out from the same practice who looked at my horses eyes and said there was not any sign of eye problems and she could not see these extra layers of cells. I started treating the horse a bit differently i.e. smacking him when he played up and getting much sharper with him when he spooked. 3 months later I have a horse who is not half as spooky as he was! Very strange. It is my impression that the horse was trying it on to a degree.

I would get the problem checked by a vet, if you can find one that specialises in eyes all the better, but if not get your normal vet out and if theres a problem with the eyes you could always email Prof Knottenbelt.

To be honest I was very surprised with the great man, he actually emailed me a reply within the hour, god bless him. He is great, I am sure he'd be happy to help you.
 
the vet has looked at her and couldn't find any problem :D
so don't know what caused her strange behaviour! she seems better overall now, so a total mystery! :rolleyes:
we have started jumping her following another horse and this has helped her to concentrate on the jump and get her on the ball :)
so all good now :D
 
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