On a high now feeling so low - blindness in new horse

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Bedford Joy

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Please I just need to share. Yesterday arrived new horsey. 11 year old tb mare, ex race/polo. Been on
Loan for last few months but polo yard want to rehome permanently. Here's where I come in ... New horse arrives yesterday left in stable overnight. This morning we notice clouding in the eyes, vet comes out ... Could be moon blindness but clouding appears to be on cornea and is not recent (as in trauma) but more a longer term degenerative condition. Polo yard say something similar happened to her 3 years ago but cleared up. Cost me £150 with vet today for antibiotics and bute but not insured as hadn't had chance to insure and anyway Petplan won't cover any condition that comes up 14 days from purchase/ insurance set up.
Horse might be blind or have problems for life or may clear up.

I have already fallen in love with her but can't afford loads of vet bills .... What do I do ? Give her back which is an option or stick with her until at least the course of antibiotics and steroids are complete and see if there's any change????
Really upset, feel like crying :(
 
What does the vet think about prognosis firstly ? Is it likely to improve, if so for how long, and what exactly are the costs involved ? Will this yard help with costs ?

Weighing it all up, what will happen to a blind pony if she is sent back ?
 
How awful for you - agree with Shysmum to find out what it would entail?

Did she have any signs beforehand at any viewings? Really feel for you and hope it turns out well.
 
Sorry to hear this.
With myself abs sister having issues with horses and blindness i know it can be so upsetting.


But calm down. Give it s bir od time and a little treatment.
It may be nothing. If ut turns audit is more then send horse back.
I know this will be upsetting but its more upsetting seeing them degenerate then coming to an end.

Why did they want ti rehome horse? Do you think they suspected something was wrong?
 
It is very sad, my much loved terrier is going blind atm, but she's happy plodding about on a lead, and as long as we don't move things around, she's fine... but with a horse what can you do ?
 
Have a proper investigation- my boy goes up to see Andy Matthews at Dick Vet in Edinburgh, they have the right facilities to see what is going on. He's classed as partially sighted (one day I WILL buy him a labrador...! ) and we spent six months biting nails as he thought at first that it was degenerative. It is, but at such a minimal rate that he wanted to see him again in ten years time. Two years on, no problems. He has a full and active competition life and I just have to be careful about light conditions when I ride out (I'm going to be honest, I ride out off road in pitch pitch black with a crap headtorch and he is much better!!)

It's not always a life sentence, and I can say hand on heart that it doesn't affect the way he goes or the way I handle him at all. However, I don't think I could ever sell him, as couldn't guarantee his future so he's stuck with me!
 
Sorry on my phone.
Also if it is more serious what will the yard do with her?
If it is a bigger problem whether horse stays with you or goes backtthe future doesn't seem good.
 
Ah well didn't view her, she's from a local well known, well respected yard who said she was fit and well apart from occasionally wind sucking which I can deal with. She didn't take to polo so they wanted her rehomed to a lovely hacking home. Very common for polo yards. Have bought one before like this. Polo yard say she was fine before she went to a lady on loan for the last 4 months.

Vet says its hard to say until we try the antibiotc
 
If its an existing condition I would be asking the original yard to pay for the bill as they would have been negligent not to notice that there was a problem prior to sending to you. Is it a permanent loan home your offering or did you buy??

I have to be honest unless you can cater for a horse long term if the blindness is permanent I take the advice and would be handing back. No good to you if you wanted a horse suitable to ride and do things with.
 
Polo yard said if I she was going blind she could become a broodmare so she does have other options.
I can cope with a partially sighted horse as they actually do very well but as she's only just arrived its a shock for me more than anything. She's cost more in vet bills in 24 hours than she cost me to buy and have delivered.
Believe Polo yard are genuine, think she's not been looked after terribly well at loan home :(
 
If she was bought sight unseen, and not vetted, and this has cropped up already.......hmmmm. No wonder she didn't take to polo, the poor girl.

The horse's welfare is at stake here - if she goes back to this yard what will happen to her - will they try and pass the buck to someone else ? The bottom line is that horse must not be allowed to suffer, and needs treatment.

I hope you get this sorted .
 
Her needs come first which is why I've had the vet out and she's now on Antibiotics and bute. Whilst she's with me she will get everything she needs it's whether she stays with me or not ...
 
Oh I wasn't saying she wouldn't, honestly - i just think it's terrible for you to have to deal with this :(

Is it fair to have a blind horse as a mum - they are flight or fight animals, and without sight would it be distressing ? I don't know, never come across blindness in a horse before.
 
Well the vet says that provided they have sight in one eye they cope very well. As they have such a large peripheral vision they can adjust very well to the loss of an eye.
I'm not sure what I want people to say, I'm just feeling upset that this lovely gentle beautiful little mare might have a painfull, degenerative condition that I was completely unaware of yesterday.
Am sticking with her for at least a couple of weeks to see how she reacts to treatment. Please keep EVERYTHING crossed for both her and I !!!!!!!! :)
 
Bedford Joy said:
Am sticking with her for at least a couple of weeks to see how she reacts to treatment. Please keep EVERYTHING crossed for both her and I !!!!!!!! :)
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Glad she has you on her side; and a life as a broodmare is not a bad one if she isn't able to do what you want.

Good luck
 
Bedford Joy said:
Well the vet says that provided they have sight in one eye they cope very well. As they have such a large peripheral vision they can adjust very well to the loss of an eye.
I'm not sure what I want people to say, I'm just feeling upset that this lovely gentle beautiful little mare might have a painfull, degenerative condition that I was completely unaware of yesterday.
Am sticking with her for at least a couple of weeks to see how she reacts to treatment. Please keep EVERYTHING crossed for both her and I !!!!!!!! :)
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Such a shame for you and the mare, and good on you for doing what you can..
For what it's worth, I had an old mare donkeys years ago who was used as a broodie for most of her life due to being blinded in one eye as a youngster (the old tie ring flying out of the wall jobby). I was given her to ride when I outgrew my pony and she was fabulous. The lack of eyesight never hindered her a bit, even jumping. Just made her slightly spooky on that side.
Good luck. I hope it works out for you both, whatever the outcome :)
 
I haven't anything useful to add but I couldn't read and run. I am so sorry for your troubles, I will keep everything crossed that there will be good news.
 
shysmum said:
Oh I wasn't saying she wouldn't, honestly - i just think it's terrible for you to have to deal with this :(

Is it fair to have a blind horse as a mum - they are flight or fight animals, and without sight would it be distressing ? I don't know, never come across blindness in a horse before.
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Just to say we had an almost blind brood mare for years she only had a tiny amount of sight in one eye and the other was removed she was fine the only thing was we kept her in more than the others with her foal for the first few days when we had our first foal with her we had a lovely acre paddock all specially done for her after a month she jumped in with the other horses she did it when I was there it was like she said I want to be in here can you let the foal though the gate please..
She was lovely and happy, apart from the the first few days with a foal where she only liked the foal on the side with the eye you would not have known ,we had her for years she was a sweetheart.
 
horseloaner said:
If its an existing condition I would be asking the original yard to pay for the bill as they would have been negligent not to notice that there was a problem prior to sending to you. Is it a permanent loan home your offering or did you buy??

I have to be honest unless you can cater for a horse long term if the blindness is permanent I take the advice and would be handing back. No good to you if you wanted a horse suitable to ride and do things with.
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This.
 
I have asked the Polo yard if they would be prepared to help out with the vet bills for the blindness issue as its likely to run Into the hundreds of pounds.
She will only be a happy hacker but my concern is huge vet bills as she came to me with these conditions undeclared ..
 
i have known many horses that are totally blind in one eye work in riding schools and as broodmares and even 1 that did bsja and BD and they all coped fine i dont see it as a problem at all i just deal with them the same way i deal with my OH who is also totally blind in one eye with respect and make sure you always talk when on side they can see you
 
Bedford Joy said:
I have asked the Polo yard if they would be prepared to help out with the vet bills for the blindness issue as its likely to run Into the hundreds of pounds.
She will only be a happy hacker but my concern is huge vet bills as she came to me with these conditions undeclared ..
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You are in a rotten situation , I know it's hard but I would return her poor mare.
 
It's such a horrible thing to happen and I feel for you.

I was in exactly the same boat as you. I have an ex racer who can't be ridden, and was getting another horse, i fell in complete love with a horse i had on lease. It turned out to have medical issues and I was so tempted to buy and fix him up regardless. The vet could see why i would cause i liked him, but basically said "there are plenty of healthy horses out there who are perfect already for you' .It broke my heart abut i took his advice and I'm so happy i did. I bought a perfect, healthy horse who i can do everything i want already on him. No vets bills, time off for treatment, worrying he will get worse. The other horse went to a companion home, he is completed wasted, but I just didn't have the money to commit to massive vets bills to get him right.

If i was rich, or had the space for him I would have him in a heartbeat, but I accepted that i didn't and instead got a different horse and I'm so glad i did. It's very easy to be swayed by your heart, but if you have a limited amount of time and money i think you have to be selfish and get a horse you can get the most out of and that you get to do the things you enjoy on.

Unless its the horse of your dreams i'd walk away. I'm glad i did. I would have been paying vets bills and bringing him for treatments and giving him recovery time, and instead i'm out happily hacking, cross countrying and doing little shows, which makes me really happy.
 
If it is only in one eye and she can do what her to do then i would keep her. If she is not going to be able to cope with the work you want to do with her then send her back. It sounds like you already like her so i would be keeping but then i'm a soft touch.
 
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