Pony with Cataracts

[IzzyB2000]

Hi all, does anyone have experience with having a pony with cataracts? My friend’s daughter’s pony was starting to get spooky and the vet says that it’s due to cataracts mainly in one eye. He said she could still be ridden but my friend is worried about her daughter who is 8 as she fell off this week due to one of the big spooks the pony did.
This seems to be spooky and suddenly - she is never nappy or naughty. If the pony is on a hack behind others nothing fazes it.

My friend is really concerned that her daughter could get hurt and lose her confidence and we thought we could ask your opinions on experience with this and whether anyone has a pony they ride with this?

I also wonder whether the eye was covered or blinkered would that help or is this a case of retirement?

The pony is used lightly for the odd jump over a raised pole and short hacks and she’s 23years old.

Many thanks! ?

 

[Birker2020]

My vet said that my previous horse was spooky because she had extra cells over his epithelial layer over her eye so it made shadows appear and all she could see was dark shadows instead of shapes as such. She used to get very spooky at times.

 

[winnie]

I took on a pony with cataracts as a companion 15 years ago. He had become very spooky, would bolt out of the blue and was generally very unsettled so more extreme than your friend's pony. I still have him and he copes fine so long as he is familiar with everything. Certainly wouldn't entertain riding him though even though the vet said the cataracts weren't severe. It would be a shame for your friend's daughter to lose her confidence, which could easily happen. A sad and difficult situation.

 

[pistolpete]

Eye specialist appointment would be best option. Know what you’re dealing with. Might be treatment available if not it’s not really fair to ride a partially sighted pony in my opinion.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Plenty of horses lose eyes due to uveitis etc, and still are able to be ridden. I would try blinkers, and if this diagnosis is right try making sure the pony is on the right rein to see everything, i know thats not helpful for jumping etc, if its a new thing, the pony will get used to it, I would just take it slowly if you wanted to keep it.

 

[paddy555]

Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) Support/Info Group

I would ask your question on the above FB group.

I wouldn't let a child ride a pony in this condition, it is too risky. The child could get hurt, could get put off riding and probably hasn't the experience to see what is happening and when the situation gets dangerous.

I think if you need an opinion you will need to ask an equine ophthalmologist to examine the pony. There may be a solution such as removal of the eye but of course that would depend on the health of the remaining eye, health overall of the pony and if it was cost effective plus if the pony was currently in pain or was going to be.


If you cover the bad eye with black masking tape over a fly mask (effectively making it blind in that eye) you may see how it copes but there is no way I would let the child on it.

I think your friend will have to consider how they see the future of the pony ie retire, PTS or try and get it examined and treated if possible.