happyhack
Well-Known Member
Has anyone had any experience? Have been to see a really lovely horse but he only has one eye and although it doesnt affect him, its a bit of a ? for me.
Horses with one eye
- Thread starter happyhack
- Start date
Eaglestone
Well-Known Member
I ride an old boy of 28 who lost the sight in one eye 3 months ago and he is absolutley fine, but obviously not competing, but not spooky or a problem at all
Not sure if I would knowingly buy one with only one though
Not sure if I would knowingly buy one with only one though
zoesophie
Well-Known Member
No personal experience but was talking to a lady about her horse at a local 3DE who only had one eye and she said it has never stopped her and her boy doing anything at all - although she did say hes stopped spooking on the side with no eye
louisevictoria
Well-Known Member
One of the girls near me has a horse that is blind in one eye, and it is her top horse that competes BSJA at foxhunter level and it doesn't appeared to be too bothered by it and it has definately not affected her jumping.
zoeshiloh
Well-Known Member
I have ridden two horses with one eye;
One was an ex-racehorse, lovely mare who lost her eye as a foal, but had a successful racing career one-eyed. Then she came to us to be rehabilitated and loaned out. She was an absolute star, and the only things you had to watch out for were on hacks, going through gateways and things, making sure she didn't bang herself - same in the school when riding her 'blind side' next to the fence - you had to concentrate a bit more on what you were doing. Never affected her really, she still jumped and was generally a very settled horse.
The second one was an ex riding school horse, who again was very settled having lost his eye quite young. He could be a bit spooky to hack if a noise happened on his blind side, but the worst he would do was spin to look with his good eye at what made the noise. Again, you had to be more aware of your riding, making sure you didn't steer him into a fence or something, but he jumped and even hunted.
I think it might depend when they lost the eye as well - a horse that has grown up one-eyed might be more use to life on one side, than a horse that has recently lost an eye.
Also find out why he lost the eye - was it an accident or some sort of infection? If it was an infection, what are the chances of him getting it in the other eye? The big worry would be if anything happened to the remaining eye - infection/cataract etc what would the outcome be.
One was an ex-racehorse, lovely mare who lost her eye as a foal, but had a successful racing career one-eyed. Then she came to us to be rehabilitated and loaned out. She was an absolute star, and the only things you had to watch out for were on hacks, going through gateways and things, making sure she didn't bang herself - same in the school when riding her 'blind side' next to the fence - you had to concentrate a bit more on what you were doing. Never affected her really, she still jumped and was generally a very settled horse.
The second one was an ex riding school horse, who again was very settled having lost his eye quite young. He could be a bit spooky to hack if a noise happened on his blind side, but the worst he would do was spin to look with his good eye at what made the noise. Again, you had to be more aware of your riding, making sure you didn't steer him into a fence or something, but he jumped and even hunted.
I think it might depend when they lost the eye as well - a horse that has grown up one-eyed might be more use to life on one side, than a horse that has recently lost an eye.
Also find out why he lost the eye - was it an accident or some sort of infection? If it was an infection, what are the chances of him getting it in the other eye? The big worry would be if anything happened to the remaining eye - infection/cataract etc what would the outcome be.
boyrider
New User
My one is blind in one eye and he copes fine. I compete him and people are really suprised when i tell them about his eye
kate081
Well-Known Member
Knew a dartmoor pony with one eye. Lost it on a fence. She was brilliant & didn't have any problems with it. I think you'd have to be careful about turnout arrangements so she wasn't bullied. I agree - you need to find out why only one eye & also think about what if anything happened to the other eye. Personally if I liked the horse & the price reflected the eye issue I'd buy it.
happyhack
Well-Known Member
QR-
He is a potential share horse and he lost his eye as a foal. He is such a gorge horse tho!! I'm thinking from these fab comments that I will give the owner a call and say when can we start!! ;-)
He is a potential share horse and he lost his eye as a foal. He is such a gorge horse tho!! I'm thinking from these fab comments that I will give the owner a call and say when can we start!! ;-)
zoesophie
Well-Known Member
yay go for it - keep us updated and of course we want pikkies
Parkranger
Well-Known Member
Ty is blind in one eye and, as above, you have to watch him when walking through small entrances and when jumping you can't cut him into the jump on his blind side as he'll obviously plough through it!
It's taken him a long time to get him to bend into the inside when his blind eye is on the outside of the school - although that's just a rider/horse trust issue I think.
There are bonuses though - he doesn't spook on that side (although he's not spooky anyway!)
x
It's taken him a long time to get him to bend into the inside when his blind eye is on the outside of the school - although that's just a rider/horse trust issue I think.
There are bonuses though - he doesn't spook on that side (although he's not spooky anyway!)
x
Ottinmeg
Well-Known Member
my friends horse got cancer in his eye aged about 13 and had it removed.he is about 17 now and still hacks ,jumps the odd 3ft 6 jump etc. the only thing different with him is you do have to let him know you are there when you are on his blind side.
JoBo
Well-Known Member
My mum had a loan horse that lost an eye because of cancer, she was exactly the same afterwards, it really didnt affect her at all. She was a laid back cob type though and I believe she was in her teens when she lost the eye, so quite comfortable in her own skin.
chunklovescooks
Well-Known Member
Went on a little hack on holiday last year, rode a horse called Lucky with one eye, he was fine, didnt seem spooky or anything, the only thing i can say is dont get frustrated if they turn their head one way or another, as they are only trying to spy on things!
Stephen.
Stephen.