My horse is behaving out of character and appears worried about his nearside

[IHazWelshD]

My horse has suddenly started to spook when I approach him from the nearside. He doesn't like any noises that side either and spins to the side in fear as though to identify what is making the noise - for example, if I walk in to his stable he is fine, but if I go to the side and my foot 'crunches' the straw he gets very tense and jumps to the side. Out of the stable he doesn't seem to like me walking towards his flanks although if I lay my hand on him and walk back he is fine. This has been happening since last Friday. He was vaccinated last Thursday and I put his odd behaviour down to him feeling out of sorts from his jab. He is eating, drinking, peeing and passing stools normally. He is also slightly headshy, but again, only on his nearside. He had a slight nasal discharge on saturday morning but that cleared very quickly and again, I put that down to the vaccination (flu/tetanus).
By the look of his bed on Friday morning he had obviousely had a good lie down. Could this be related to an eye injury? He is absolutely fine with anything being done around his offside.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

As the owner of a horse that had to have an eye removed, your description is text book how Sunny was when he first had no vision on one side. In fact it's so text book it makes me wonder if this is a test? If this is a genuine query, take a look at his spooky side eye. Can you see any discharge, inflammation, 3rd eyelid, eyelid half closed, milky white patches on the cornea? Is he avoiding the light and going to the back of his stable? You can try the startle test which is where you bring your hand fast up to the dodgy eye, almost as if you were going to smack the horse in the eye, but stop (obviously) before you do. If there's normal vision the horse should startle away from your hand. Not a definitive test as some horses would detect the rush of air and startle away from that. I'd get the vet out as if it is an eye problem, you need to be able to look right deep into the structure of the eye. Foreign objects, injury to the cornea, conjunctivitis, should be easy to diagnose but more serious conditions such as superficial keratitis and uveitis are only detected by careful examination of the internal eye. Eyes are so very very precious I'd get the vet out asap. DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, try to self medicate either by borrowing a friend's eye drops or buying something over the counter meant for people or dogs or cats.

 

[Booboos]

Never had experience of a serious eye problem, but it does sound like he can't see you as well from that side. Eye problems can be very serious so I would call the vet asap.

 

[Shay]

The poster in new lounge may have a point about something having happened to frighten him on his nearside. Horses are very "one sided" and will learn different things for different sides. (Why you repeat exercises on both reins.) But I have to say the behaviour you're describing is very similar to my lad who has partial vision on his offside.

There are other things it could be - a tooth abcess or infection making that side sore perhaps. But one way or the other I would reccommend getting the vet out to check.

Loss of sight on one side isn't a complete disaster. The horse - and you - can manage. but it does change things about how you handle and sometimes how you ride. Don't take chances though.