*PICS* One eyed horses - experiences?

ashlingm

ashlingm

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I am thinking of purchasing a big beautiful coloured cob with what looks like a collapsed eyeball (not even sure if that's the right term?). His right eye is there but buried in the socket with his third eyelid growing over it. I dont think he is totally blind in it (can see shadows?), but it gets infected often enough.

This horse is going cheap and has the most amazing temperament. I honestly don't need another horse but can't help but feel sorry for him and of where he might end up. He's had a few dodgy characters interested in him. He's said to be 8 but doesn't have a passport as far as I know.

If I were to buy him removing his damaged eye would be a priority. The eye infections must be uncomfortable and it is rather unsightly. From what I have read online it would suit him (the 'shadows' he sees can make him spooky). Regarding pain, were just not sure. Surely having an eye buried in your head cant be comfortable? I can get pics tomorrow to show you what it looks like :)

Has anyone had this done recently enough? Approximately how much did it cost? What is the recovery time like?

I have also read of a new method of removing their eye which involves a standing sedation and local anesthetic, rather than the riskier full anesthetic. Has anyone tried this?

And lastly - the use of a latex ball in the eye socket is a new(ish??) thing in veterinary medicine. The ball is inserted into the eye cavity and the eyelids stitched shut over it. This means that the orbit doesn't sink in and give that hollow empty look that's normally associated with one eyed horses. It makes them look like their winking! Would love to hear from anyone who has tried this, again a guideline price would be brilliant!

I'm a sucker for any animal with a sob story or disability! If he wasn't so sweet natured and nice I could let him go. But I do think he deserves a chance! Here's a snap of the man himself - he's quite handsome right?


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If you can afford to have his eye removed (maybe get your vet to have a look at him and give you a quote before going ahead with the purchase?) then it shouldn't be an issue once healed. Let us know if you get him, he does look sweet. :)
 
I can't help on the UK cost as I am in Oz, but we have recently had an eye removed in our aged (20 year old) mare. The standing surgery was definitely on the table as an option. She recovered fine, and I can't see any reason why she shouldn't do Pony Club next year as she was before the operation.
There is a mare in endurance over here who is happily (and successfully) doing 50 mile rides.
 
An old livery mate had a horse with just one eye, he was a selle francais and out-ran all the rest of us - she used to hack for miles. Not sure if he could jump as she was just a happy hacker. He didn't like being overtaken on his blind side - but there were no big dramatics about it.
 
What a sweet looking cob....

I have a Shetland that is blind in one eye and has been for a few years...he manages well as long as your don't creep up on him on the wrong side.
I have also ridden a little horse that lost an eye and he coped very well.
 
He looks gorgeous! I would get ideas of cost of surgery and if you can afford then go for it, he looks a lovely sort! I'd be after him myself if nearer he's that sweet! :)
 
A friend of mine's old boy had one eye. When she got him (free i might add) she was told he was blind, but he was spooky, and when the eye got infected and had to be removed the vet said that he probably did have limited vision. In terms of cost this was a few years ago and i have no idea, but in terms of how he coped - fantastically well.

He was great to jump, would charge at his fences but 3 strides out would adjust himself so he was always at the right point for take off. You just had to watch him with doorways / going in and out of trailer - and signposts. : )
 
I sometimes ride a huge Selle Français gelding who is blind in one eye. He is one of the best and most self-confident horses I have ever ridden. He is not spooky or silly at all and is not affected by his blindness in the slightest.
 
I used to ride a one-eyed pony a gazillion years ago. it never bothered him in the slightest and he was both an amazing jumper and brilliant games pony. He also loved being scratched in his empty eye socket!

Was about to mention Adventure de Kannan too, but someone beat me to it!
 
I paid £500 approx in Jan this year. This included the operation, drugs and 3 nights in hospital.
Just be careful. Do you know what the infection is? If it's uveitis as ours was, yes you can remove the effected eye and this may solve all his problems but it usually at some point effects the second eye as I found out.
Personally, after the few years I've had I'd be walking away (that's if it's uvietis) . Probably not what you want to hear but it's a evil disease.
 
If it's not though, the operation is very easy and straight forward and our horse handled it brilliantly so I'd certainly do that side of things again with no worry :)
 
Thank you all for the replies.... filling me with hope! He was used in a riding school so can do small jumps but I think cocks his head a bit so he can see the jump properly. No big deal...I prefer flatwork with just the occasional small jump!

Thank you Poiuytrewq for the cost. I don't think its uveitis as it doesn't match any of the clinical signs for it. His eye looks like it may have possibly been kicked? It's like its retracted into the socket. It's really gross.... I will get a picture of it tomorrow!
 
I have 2 horses both with Cataracts in one eye. One we bought as a 4 year old and the second is my retired Endurance mare (20 years old) hers came about a couple of months ago.

Neither have had any problems. My gelding went on to be an Advanced Endurance horse and did very well. It did not affect him at all. He can also jump well too.

The operation is easy and they recover well.
 
A friend has just had her pony done by standing sedation, no problems since, healing well. She did say that the ball to stop the socket falling in made it more of a risk of infection, so she did not as she wanted the best for the pony, and the pony does not know what he looks like, and the other horses do not seem to care.
 
How lovely of you to give this gorgeous horse a second chance! We have a resue pony on our yard with one eye. She is fine and happy. Doesnt affect her at all. Good luck im sure it will work out well for you. Xx
 
And there was a one-eyed horse, who's name escapes me, as does the rider, that did the most amazing clear round at Olympia on Sunday that other big names didn't manage. Rider said afterwards that horse is now better to ride post having eye removed as he/she was in pain any more,so much more relaxed.
 
My darling cob had his left eye removed earlier this year due to cancer. All went well until a week later when he developed uveitis in his remaining eye. Possibly related to the other eye coming out. We saved the eye but he was in agony and unfortunately he had another complication with swelling tracking to the brain. He kept falling over and 2 days later I had to make the terrible decision to pts. My darling boy.
So by all means go ahead, but bear in mind the possible complications.
 
madmav said:
And there was a one-eyed horse, who's name escapes me, as does the rider, that did the most amazing clear round at Olympia on Sunday that other big names didn't manage. Rider said afterwards that horse is now better to ride post having eye removed as he/she was in pain* any more,so much more relaxed.
Click to expand...

*Wasn't in pain is what I meant.
 
After a friend's small pony had his eye removed they made him a pirate patch for it :D He has various coloured/patterned ones now and he looks cute in them. Pirate pony :)
 
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