If Archie was to lose his eye ...

Archiesmummy

Archiesmummy

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... what might I expect? Has anyone pictures? Could he still keep his eye lids and lashes?

Are there such things as false eyes for horses?

So many thoughts are going around my head.

I have spoken to Liphook today. He is comfortable and well in himself. I asked for him to be walked out as I couldn't get there today and am worried the standing around in his stable will do him no good at all.

His treatment is limited by my insurance. If I had a bottomless pot of money he would be treated and treated and everything done to save his eye. Because I have a £3k limited there is only so much they can try before removal. Its times like this I wish I was a millionaire. To lose an eye because of cost is a horrible thought and my fault. It is something I just never, ever invisaged.

I am going to up my insurance cover definitely after this episode.
 
My old girl had a tumour in her eye which made it shrivel & die. I didn't have it removed as it would have only been for cosmetic reasons. She just had a kind of sunken socket. My friends horse had its eye removed & they chose to have a ball thing in the socket before it was stitched up. Tbh it looks really weird & draws attention to it :(

Hugs for you & your boy xx
 
Couple of years I saw a 4* star going around badminton (briarsland something ) so losing one eye is not the end of your horses ridden career!
 
Oh no not at all! Both my girl & my friends horse still regularly competed, mine in SJ & pc/games, my friends still events, does dressage, SJ, everything it did before! xx
 
You can get false eyes but I have heard they lead to infection. Best to just leave the socket sewn up. It just creates like a furry concave and isn't that noticeable. Google image it and you can see lots!
 
there was a wee horse called squire at my old yard with one eye. it was quite scary to me at first cos id never seen it before, but its alright when your used to it!

it didnt bother him at all, you just had to let him know you were coming when you were at the side with no eye, he still jumped and hacked and rode perfectly :)
 
went to a jumping demonstration clinic and there was a horse with one eye. Took us ages before we even noticed it. he just had a sunken socket. It didn't seem to bother him in the slightest and he was well able to do the complicated turns etc
 
I knew a horse that lost an eye after an infection due to a blackberry scratch ulcerated. Even after months of treatment and a catheter in the eye he still had to have it removed. Didn't look that bad to be honest.

This is Briarlands Blackberry who evented with one eye. If link doesn't work then just google "Briarlands Blackberry" and click images

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=br...0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:90&tx=69&ty=46
 
Hi, Cannot answer about the eye but just wanted to let you know and re-assure you that I went up at about 4pm today to see my boy.I have to walk past your stable to get to mine and he was looking very content and having a nice doze just inside his door. Hope this helps to reassure you.
 
I know a top games pony which has one eye. The socket is covered with skin, and although its sunken, that pony competes in mounted games competitions, lets the rider vault on the blind side, bends like a pro and is fearless with equipment.

It's admirable really, the trust that little horse has in his rider.
 
Both montyandzoom and Box_of_Frogs have one eyed horses and might be able to give you an idea of what to expect.

All I can say is I have heard of horses that cope quite well with the lose,though some can became more spooky and unsettled due to the lose the vision on that side. Routine and approaching from the visible side where possible was always advised.

As for appearances it will depend on how the eye is removed and how it heals...In eye removals I have seen, they have healed over and form an blank open socket with time. Though initially the eyelid are kept and stitched over to close the area from infection and the inflammation in the area did not make the eye loss seem as hollow.However that may not be the technique that your vets use so its hard to know how your boy will look or what will be involved.

False eyes etc for a horse has no benefit for the horse its purely cosmetic and personally I am not a fan as they can require a lot of care to prevent infections and sores but thats just a personal opinion.

Plenty of horses have a lose of vision or are blind in one eye/lose an eye and go on living happy lives and have ridden careers in the future.

Good luck with your boy.
 
One of my ponys has a shrunken shrivelled up eye, its the size of a small marble. While it does not get infected the vet is happy to leave it where it is, but one day it may need to be removed. I worried what it would look like when I first got told his eye would shrink away, and now it has his eye lids almost are closed as the eye is tiny it does not bothere me and defo does not bother him at all.
My friends pony has his eye removed a few years ago, they just stitch the eye lids together and they just seem to shrink inside the socket. Her pony is not effected or fazed by it at all, which as made me feel better at the thought that mine may need his removing in the future.
 
When one of my mares was last in.Leahurst, there was an ex stunt horse stallion there who had just had his SECOND eye removed! To me, this was completely unfair and not something i would ever consider, but the vets were ok with it, as was the owner.
To lose one eye, though not ideal, is something they can adapt to & I've seen several who have continued their ridden career with no problems. My sister used to jump one regularly.
I dont see the point in the implants tbh, but that's just me.
Good luck with him though. I hope it all comes right whatever happens :) x
 
I can field this one :D I'm not sure how many of my posts you have seen so will give you the long boring story!!!

Zoom was a polo pony imported from Argentina. She lost her eye at 8 years old having played high goal for an England team member and done nothing else! She was kicked by another horse and it was enucleated.

Cosmetically - people always think that she was born that way as the job is very neat. I will warn you that the socket kind of blinks which is disconcerting but normal. There is no visable scarring and the inside of the socket is covered with hair so blends in very well (Sorry, graphic but want you to know how it will be if he has to have it out).

Here is the best pic I've got:

4534_21.jpg


In terms of adjustment, I got her as a 10yo and she still only had two gears - stop and go! She had only ever played polo but within a year we had SJ'd, HT'd, hunted done dressage and done sponsored rides. She honestly doesn't give a c*** about the eye!! She just gets on with it.

Horses adjust so well to whatever happens so please try not to panic too much. If you need ANY words of encouragement/someone to vent upset to/any type of information PLEASE PM me and I'll give you my number.

Lots of good thoughts and vibes.
 
MontyandZoom said:
Horses adjust so well to whatever happens so please try not to panic too much. If you need ANY words of encouragement/someone to vent upset to/any type of information PLEASE PM me and I'll give you my number.

Lots of good thoughts and vibes.
Click to expand...

The pony I know is much like this one. It's very clean, and the pony seems unfazed. Like I said before, it's admirable to see how well they cope and adapt. Ditto on the thoughts, and positive vibes.
 
I knew one where the socket wasnt sewn up as at the time it was an infection risk. So the pony had the socket of the eye but no eye ball and she coped fine. It was washed out every day and that was the only special treatment she got. It did twitch and sort of blink occasionally which was odd at first but you soon got used to it.
 
My horse is getting his eye removed next week due to re occuring uveitis, ulcers and an edema. He cannot see out of it but he is depressed and in pain. My friends horse had his eye removed about 3 months ago and is amazing! Before he was depressed, couldnot go out in the sunshine, always at the back of the stable but now he has his head over his door wanting to go out!
 
My friends loan horse lost his eye sight. His eyeball remained but looked kind of bluey/cloudy.

On a positive note, he was and still is being ridden at the grand age of 25yrs old! He hacks, schools all as normal. He can still jump but approaches it at a slight angle so he can have a good look! He sometimes turns his head to look at things with his remaing eye. Lives a pretty normal life!
 
My 19 year old boy lost his eye 10months ago now after a accident in the field (we don't know what happened I walked and walked the field to try and work out what he cut it on but have no idea!) Because of how deep the cut to the eye ball was the vets decided the best option was to simply remove rather than trying to save (on removal it was discovered that it was the best decision).
They slithered a bit of skin off each lid (taking the eye lashes off) and stitched these together, when he first came home due to the swelling it just looked like his eye was closed, as he healed the skin gradually sunk back into the socket - I looked at photos on the internet when he was is for surgery and was really worried I would be upset seeing it sunk back but because it happens so gradually and I saw it all the time I can honestly say that I forget now that he has it!
He has adapted really well, is out jumping, etc and acting like a 5year old (not 19!) Very occasionally he will jump if he is engrossed in his tea and doesn't hear me come up on his blind side but generally he is fine, I still rug and tack him from left hand side and have a small soft brush which I use to brush in the socket to get all the dust out that he stores in there!
Sorry for rambling but hopefully our story will help to ease your worries. Best wishes for you and hope he makes a speedy recovery!
 
No advice but please don't feel guilty. You clearly care lots about this horse and many seem to lead normal lives with only one eye. Unfortunately money is a limit on some things but your horse is obviously well cared for and will be pain free! :) my thoughts are with you are your horse x
 
I rode a one eyed horse and it was fine. I think it lost it in an accident, but it was a bit wary of things coming up along side it on the blind side(not spooky) I just sensed that it was a bit wary ie when a car came up but only on that side. It never took off or anything like that at all and was fine to ride hack out etc, it just seemed to listen with its ears more of things behind. I suppose what I am saying is its not the end if the horse loses the eye and this horse was good out hacking etc completely normal to ride(I think it was because I knew it only had one eye, I was more aware of its reaction to things around). I hope Archie is ok with it all going on and you get it sorted out soon.
 
My boy had his eye removed about 5 years ago. He had got a thorn in it and although the vets tried to save it they just couldn't . He has coped so well and nothing really changed we still did the same stuff he was still ridden and jumped. The only thing was riding on the roads as its his right eye and the vet warned me not to but i was lucky enough that I didn't need too.
His eyelids are sown together he still has his eye lashes!! I don't really notice it anymore and do sometimes forget normally resulting in me smacking my head on his bless him ! ( he's had a poorly foot so I'm often bent down checking it and he looks round to see what I'm doing only he can't see when I'm getting up and im not always aware he's there)
With him he doesn't hold himself differently so it's not so noticeable. I've had someone comment that he doesn't react like hes blind on that side where as another horse may and would turn there head in a certain way to see you.
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hey there, just wanted to check if there is any news, and to send Archie

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Just been discussing you with hubs, and wondering what the hell we would do. I really feel for you. sm xx
 
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