Spooky horse and eye problem

applecart14

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I've posted on here before about the fact that my horse is spooky and I thought it could be linked to an eye problem, but didn't really get any answers, so I am hoping that a 'fresh pair of eyes' (excuse the pun) might help me. Bailey's spookiness got so bad that about 12 months ago I asked the vet to look into his eyes and the vet examined him and said he thought he had extra cells on his epitheral layer over his eye. I asked the vet if this would have any bearing on his spookiness and the vet didn't seem to think so but stated that as he wasn't an eye specialist he couldn't say for definite.

Has anyone had a horse with a similiar diagnosis? I am finding more and more that the type of things he is shying at are shadow related, i.e. dense patch of grass or weeds, dark patch of soil, sun shining and casting sunlight or shadow on an area. This became evident yesterday with a ride round the grounds of the local riding club.

Before you ask "is it your riding" I can personally guarantee you that he shies at things with other people. He will for example shy at a mounting block in an arena, despite the fact he could ride past it a hundred times, each time he approaches it he seems scared of it. I can get him to stand next to it and sniff it, but next time round, terror! There is a clump of weeds which he has taken to shying at next to our menage at home. Despite the fact he has travelled down the long side of the school about five thousand times in the six years he's been on the yard it seems to be the 'monster'. It looks like a dark clump of vegetation. Could this epitheral layer be causing this spookiness problem??

I have got to go out now, but I will be able to reply so any questions later, I would be really grateful if there are any eye specialists (human or vet) than can answer my question. Thank you so much for any help/suggestions.
 

paulineh

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Have a look at this article http://www.ranvet.com.au/corneal_ulcers.htm

Has he ever had an eye problem such as an ulcer or runny eyes
or maybe has got a piece of twig in the eye and you have not noticed.

I have an Arab gelding I bought as a 4 yr old (Now 14 yrs old) My boy has a cataract and is partly sighted in that eye. He is an Advanced Endurance horse and can also jump well.

Another one of my Arabs will spook at anything even if he saw it the day before.
 
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