Failing eyesight in elderly horse

[MrsElle]

I have noticed that Ellie seems to be finding it more and more difficult to see.

She spooked at the stable door a couple of days ago (it was at a slightly different angle to normal) and then wouldn’t go into her stable until the light was turned on. She stops to look at things closely, almost inspecting them and this morning she was snorting and wouldn’t put her head in her feed trug because there were a couple of carrots on the top, which aren’t usually there. I can only presume the trug looked different and it scared her. I nearly cried at that point, if her eyesight is that bad its not good is it?

Its not just me who has noticed the change in her in the last few weeks. People on the yard have commented on her usual bombproof laid back demeaner changing to one of spookiness and worry. She is so bad that a friend on the yard advised me not to ride her out as if she jumps at something she might end up in the road. She wouldn’t take off but is definitely spooking at every little thing.

She is 27 by the way, and fit and healthy in every other way, so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that something is failing.

Has anyone come across an elderly horse with failing eyesight before and how have you managed it?

 

[hellybelly6]

I knew a horse with one eye, but not failing eye sight. She could have something as straight forward as cataracts. I would call the vet out and take things from there.

As she is so spooky with things in her immediate surroundings, I agree with you friend that she is not safe to ride out until you know what it is causing it especially not on the roads, for your and her sake. Sorry.

 

[Theresa_F]

Yes, Cairo only had one eye and the other had been operated on numerous times for cancer. We were never that sure of just how much he could see.

The last six months of his life, when he was 22, he came wary of gates, very spooky at them which was out of character and it became obvious that he had fairly suddenly gone very long sighted to the extent that he had little/no vision for about 3' in front of him.

Chancer my youngster became his eyes for taking him to the water trough and feed bowls and taking him round the field.

He did adjust but we had to be careful taking him through gaps and did not move anything in the field round so he knew where things were. Distance sight was fine - but did have to yell and then talk to him when poo picking as he came trotting over so he knew where we were and did not go into us or the barrow.

He was still ridden on the bridleways, we did have to keep an eye out for anything he could trip on and as he was ridden western he could have very long reins so he could move his head as he wished. Luckily he had 100% faith in his rider and was never spooky when being ridden, I think because he felt so secure.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

It could easily be failing eyesight ME. Cataracts you should be able to see as a cloudiness behind the cornea. I'd get the vet out just to be sure and to know what you're dealing with. You could try the startle test to give you an idea. One eye at a time, hold her carefully and then bring the flat of your hand up fast as if you are going to smack her hard in the eye, but obviously stop JUST short. She should startle away from you. Do the other eye then. Then give her polos to show her you didn't mean to alarm her!!!

If she doesn't jump then she might indeed have limited vision in one or both eyes. Horses can get very used to how the world looks after they have lost the vision in one eye (Sunny had to have his eye removed) but it is the transition period that can worry them, when things start to look different or when it happens suddenly. If your ned still has reasonable vision in one eye, she should get used to the way the world looks from her other eye in time. Hope she's ok - give her an extra hug from H&H x

 

[Birker2020]

I've recently had the vet to look at my horses eye's as he has been increasingly spooky to the point of being silly and he says he has a dry layer on his cornea - like a dry eye but doesn't think it would effect his sight. Makes you wonder though as he is not an eye specialist. One simple test you can do is to hold a naked flame to your horses eye (be careful not to set the stable on fire!) and you should see three images. The flame upright, the flame upside down and the flame lying on its side. If you cannot see these three images clearly there could be a problem with your horses retina. I got this info from a really old vets book written in the 70's and it has a host of old fashioned illnesses, most of which are called different things now, and things that you never hear of now like quittor and tetany. When you look into the eye you can see these images, it is quite clear. Try it and see but do call your vet out to take a look also.

 

[Marchtime]

My old pony is out with another old mare who we assume is pretty blind. She startles easily and is very upset when separated from my pony. She also has been known to kick out when approached. She lives out and seems to manage fine although we think my pony is 'her eyes' hence why they hate to be separated. I'd be wary about riding on the road until you know the extent of the problem.

 

[toomanyhorses26]

We found that pair bonding really helped with our old ponies and they took alot of confidence from each other - one had been quite a little tough nut and was def head of the herd but her eyesight started to fail and it was the most meek and mild pony that stepped up if you like and became her eyes in the field really interesting to watch as well as being incredibly sad

 

[Tia]

I have a field with 3 very old horses and they live with 2 foals. 2 of the horses have varying degrees of blindness; one is almost totally blind in both eyes, the other has limited vision in both eyes. The other geriatric of the trio (my little palomino), although is the oldest, has become the eyes and ears of the ladies. He guides them about and takes care of them; as do the foals.

They live in an 8 acre field and their shelter is a big stone barn. They do absolutely fine as they know the field boundaries and where all the relevant facilities are (water, hay feeder etc).

Your horse is probably new to this change by the sounds of things. Once she becomes familiar with the way life is for her now, she will relax and become used to it. Don't feel sorry for her, or get upset; she will be fine providing you take the time to carefully introduce her to new things.

 

[MrsElle]

I took a video of Ellie this morning when I fed her. She displayed identical behaviour out in the field this morning when looking for her hay

The vet will be coming out sometime this week to identify what is wrong and we shall take it from there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPKeYCLhlRs

 

[Tia]

Oh bless her. She really is out of sorts isn't she, poor old girl. Although some of her actions are very similar to the two blind mares here, some are not. I wonder if she has hurt herself in some way? Bashed her head on something, hence her being so wary and so obviously upset. Perhaps it is just her way of coping with not being able to see clearly? I don't know but my gut feeling is (and obviously this is just a guess as I don't know her) that it is not only her eyes that are failing slightly. I do hope that it is only the eyes though, as it is fairly easy to manage just by taking extra time and care over what she does and where she lives.

Please let us know what the vet says.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

That's a really distressing video ME and I would guess that she is blind. The way she quests about for the feedbowl by scent (it seems) until she can home in on it then snatches a bite and moves away. If she can't see where the food is it must be a worrying surprise when it suddenly appears as she has to back away. Then she starts all over again for the next mouthful. The time she found her head pressed against the wall she looked worried too. If it was me, I'd have picked the bowl up and held it for her while talking gently all the time so she knew it was you and where you were. I'd move anything that sticks out from the stable out of there immediately or she could injure herself accidentally and then possibly panic further coz she wouldn't know if a tiger was in the stable with her. Be prepared for some sobering news. Please let us know how she does xxx

 

[Theresa_F]

As above, it looks as though she has no or very little eyesight and has scared herself. Cairo used to nose about to find his grub, but once found his nose was firmly stuffed in until empty.

I would if possible keep her in, make sure nothing in the stable, ie rugs etc to startle her. Keep the hay/water/feed in exactly the same place, and lead her to the feed and encourage her to relax.

Once the vet has been you can go from there. It is possible to keep a blind/nearly blind horse, but you do need a very set routine, everything kept just so, people aware they need to speak to announce themselves, careful with gates etc and only out with one or two other horses that they completely trust and who will act as their sight.

We would have had a go at keeping Cairo if he had gone blind as we are on a small yard, Chancer looked after him and he had been with limited sight since a youngster, but depending on your situation you may have to consider her well being.

I hope she settles and is ok, please let us know how things go. Keeping everything crossed for her.