Our Horse has lost her eye today

[Rockchick_uk]

My moms mare, Poppy was diagnosed with persistant Uvietus at Leahurst yesterday after 4 months of continual treatment. The vets decided that the eye would never improve and Poppy would be blind within 6-12months at the most so we made the decision to have the eye removed today.

The whole family is devastated as our horses are our world but feel that this was the best decision for Poppy as she has been in so much pain.

Anyway the eye was taken away today and my moms own vet at home has said that she cannot ride on the roads as insurance will not cover her etc and it will be unsafe.

Were not too bothered as if we cannot ride on the roads we will move her to a livery where there is loads of off road hacking.

What i wanted to know is has anyone got a one eyed horse or knows of one and what activities do you do with it.

Any help anyone can offer will be appriciated as we are so upset about this.

 

[rockinghorse]

My daughter has a friend with a one eyed 13' 2 pony and he does games (better than my daughter all seeing!), dressage and local SJ up to 3'. also hacks out on the roads with no problems. You wouldn't know he had an eye missing unless you were told or looked closely. He is the sweetest man. He was doing all these things before so I guess he just compensates.
Enjoy.

 

[mintaka04]

Sorry to hear that your horse has lost an eye, but I'm aghast that the insurance say they won't cover you for roadwork.
One of my endurance buddies has a one-eyed Fresian mare who competes at a high level (was on the Scottish team this year) she does miles and miles on the roads and it doesn't bother the horse one wee bit.

I think that once your horse gets over her op. and has some time to adjust she'll be fine.

 

[Tangaroo]

I used to have a horse and a pony with one eye. The horse lost his as a 6 month old and had it removed completely. He hunted, evented and did dressage with no problems whatsoever.
The pony went blind in one eye when he was bitten by a snake. He still had the eye but couldnt see out of it.
He was also used for everything.
Once your horse has adjusted to it im sure she will be absolutely fine and go onto live a normal active life.
Please dont worry, it really shouldnt be a problem.

 

[Tabbi]

Your poor horse.

I dont know about the activities bit but I do hope she feels better soon

 

[moodiestmare]

Sorry to hear about that. I am pretty sure ParkRanger has a horse with one eye.

Try sending her a PM.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

sorry to hear that, i have heard of many horses adapting very well to having just the one eye and leading a full life

 

[Rockchick_uk]

Thank you all so much for the encouraging words.

One thing for certain is we will do everything we can to try and help her adjust as we love her so much.

We just want her to lead a happy life.

 

[jaffs]

I am so sorry to hear about your news today. I hope she adapts quickly to seeing with one eye. You sound like wonderful owners.
I used to hack out with a friend who's horse has one eye, it never affected him and we bombed about all over the place, and she led over the jumps!
The horse was no different behaviour wise to mine, we just forgot about his sight limitations after a while.
Good luck.

 

[TicTac]

very sorry to hear about your mums horse but like most people have said I think you will be amazed how the horse will adjust after a bit of time. At least she still has the chance of life.

 

[Shilasdair]

I used to teach at a riding school with a pony who was blind in one eye. You would never have known - the only difference to a fully sighted horse was when he jumped - the rider would need to give him a little more rein so he could turn his head and look at the jump with his functioning eye.
He hacked out, did everything; he was a dude.
I am sure your horse will adjust well, it will just take a little time to get used to it.
S

 

[rara007]

There is a one eyed horse who does driving trials!

 

[treacle86]

How old is your mare that lost her eye ?I have a friend whos horse had an eye removed at 12yo and she continued to do a bit of everything , it didnt affect her in any way , Im not sure of the insurance clauses etc however.I hope she recovers and copes well

 

[Daisychain]

Mark Todd had a sucessfull eventer called General Knowledge, (i think) he had one eye!

 

[Ottinmeg]

my friends horse also had his eye removed (cancer ) and the only thing you have to do different with him is let him know you are there when on his blind side. He is 17 plus years old now and copes just fine. As others have said your mare should be fine once she has had time to get used to it. I've never heard of the insurance thing though so might be an idea to phone and ask them.

 

[Thistle]

A horse did Burghley a couple of years ago with only 1 eye.

 

[Rhandir]

You need to talk to Theresa F on this forum, she used to have a one eyed horse, it never stopped him doing anything.

 

[Fizz06]

I used to ride a horse with one eye - no different than riding a 'normal' horse. He was still up for everything and it didn't really affect him at all. He certainly wasn't more spooky etc, which was one of my worries. You had to keep an extra eye out for him whilst riding, especially when jumping as already mentioned, but other than that you wouldn't have been able to tell if you didn't already know.

 

[Rockchick_uk]

Poppy is 16 years old and such a amazing mare, She is so full of character and a pure delight to own!!!

Here are is our girl.........


Poppy

And best friends for life, Indiana & Poppy

 

[Hullabaloo]

So sorry to hear this, but please don't despair.
I've ridden 2 horses with one eye. Both hacked out and hunted and one of them was a cracking show jumper - you just had to remember not to cut the corner too much on his blind side when you were doing a jump off.
They were both very happy, well adjusted horses and a pleasure to be around and ride.
I have to say, I'm surprised at the attitude of your insurance company though. One of the horses I mentioned was used in the riding school and used to be hacked our regularly by clients.
Its probably more upsetting for you and your family than for your horse as she will just be relieved to be out of pain.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

 

[Shilasdair]

I could shock you all by telling you I used to look after a completely blind pony (ex SJ) which lost function in both optic nerves so could see nothing at all.
He was still turned out every day, and you'd never know he was blind, in fact WPs used to ask why we never rode him...
S

 

[Rockchick_uk]

Awwww that is nice to know, I just called my mom and told her what everyone has said and i think its made her feel better so thank you all!!!

 

[wizoz]

Firstly, i'm so sorry to hear this, it is a shock at first but you will get over it and Poppy will get used to having just one eye. I had a pony years ago, who had one eye, he had an accident in his stable with his owners, a protruding nail...say no more!

Anyhow, he was my horse/pony of a lifetime, taught me everything. We did Gymkhana's, showjumping, eventing, hunting, hacking on the roads, everything. He was about 20 when he left me, he went on to be a lead rein pony for a tiny tot.

I'll never ever forget him and how special he was.

Try not to be too upset, i'm sure Poppy will adapt and you'll be able to do all the things that you have with her.

 

[Coffee_Bean]

Thats a shame

But as others have said, they do adjust very well. Saw a one eyed horse when we were out hacking the other day, looked fine and my instructor said that they can often make better jumpers, as they don't cross focus on the jump, hope she'll be fine

 

[meardsall_millie]

Sorry to hear about your horse but don't despair. I used to look after a stallion who was blind in one eye and he showjumped to a very high level.

Also Briarlands Blackberry completed several 4* events (including Burghley) ridden by Tristram Owers.

Perhaps you could point these sort of facts out to your insurance company - or alternatively find one that is a little more reasonable/sensible about it!

 

[wizoz]

Tristram Owers used to ride a horse with one eye, went round Badminton and Burghley, Briarlands Blackberry I think and doesn't Cressy Clague Reading's horse Huszar also only have one eye and also evented to top level?

 

[Araminta]

Hi, Try not to worry. I had a grade A showjumper who lost his eye for the same reason at 13. He was fab afterwards and you would never guess he was any different other than he was soooooo much nicer ( must have been in so much discomfort before the op)

He carried on jumping - and winning - Hacked out with no probs and did everything he had done before - only beter and with more gusto.

Im sure you will be fine

 

[Swift08]

That is so sad, my pony sufferes from ERU and has just started 6 months of pred forte. I know several horses with one eye and they are usualy just used for hacking and schooling. 2 of the horses are used in a riding school one is now retired at the age of 22 the other is very happy and oing into semi-retirement at the age of 19 he lost his eye when he had a fall doing xc but still carried on doing xc for many years.

 

[snafflepuss]

My horse only has one eye, he had it removed in April when he got a very rare infection.

He is absolutely fine, we hack for miles (and fast too!), jump as high as I have the guts for, he's never been any different. When I'm riding I often have to remind myself which side is the blind side.

Horses don't have the same sort of issues we do over eyes; they don't care how they look!

You will be sure to make lots of friends at shows as everyone will come to talk to you about it!

I've never heard of any insurance issues, sounds very bizarre?

 

[Tia]

So sorry to hear about Poppy - must be a shocked for you

.

On the bright side; over here, for some unexplained reason, there appears to be a huge amount of one-eyed horses; in fact so many that they are relatively common. They all seem to go on to lead perfectly contented lives doing the same as any normal sighted riding horse would do. I would expect it will take a little while for her to get used to it; you'll obviously have to take care when dealing with her blind side, but on the whole I believe horses just accept this and get on with life.

Hope everything heals well and that you have your girl up and happy again soon.

Tia x