Update on ponies possible eyesight problem

McNally

McNally

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After my o/h managed to unconventionally catch the little munchkin(!) we decided to put him back into his old paddock as he was more chilled down there and any thing is worth a try.
He's MUCH better- which makes me wonder, and tbh this bothers me almost as much as sight issues if someone on the footpath has hit him about the head?
This would also explain his bizarre behaviour change I often thought if i didnt know him you could easilly mistake him for a battered pony. We are on a private yard though and have been for a while so i know we've never hit him and pushed that idea out of my mind?
Still the last few days he's been far less nervy and easy to catch. Jumpy but not terrified.
My daughter tried to ride him in the field this morning and he took off with her. I mean properly flat out- something he's certainly NEVER even tried before, so things are still very wrong. We walked him quietly round the paddock just so to end on a good calm note but im still very worried about him.
We are taking him to the vets on Tuesday afternoon. It was the soonest date his regular vet could commit to so hopefully that will give us some answers.
 
Hope it all works out. Sounds like there's definitely something wrong there, the sooner you can find out the better :)

I think you're right to wait god your regular vet, always seems to make a difference I think, if they know them.

Sending good vibes your way! :D
 
The experience you're describing sounds just like one we had that had had a bad experience and been knocked about a bit - (not by us!)

I'd definitely keep him away from the footpath, mine is kept beside a footpath and I once turned up to find a yob sitting on her :mad: so I think the possibility that he may have been abused by someone passing by quite plausible.

That being said, I'd still get his eyesight checked out too. :)

Hopefully you can get to the bottom of his behaviour change quickly.
 
McNally said:
After my o/h managed to unconventionally catch the little munchkin(!) we decided to put him back into his old paddock as he was more chilled down there and any thing is worth a try.
He's MUCH better- which makes me wonder, and tbh this bothers me almost as much as sight issues if someone on the footpath has hit him about the head?
This would also explain his bizarre behaviour change I often thought if i didnt know him you could easilly mistake him for a battered pony. We are on a private yard though and have been for a while so i know we've never hit him and pushed that idea out of my mind?
Still the last few days he's been far less nervy and easy to catch. Jumpy but not terrified.
My daughter tried to ride him in the field this morning and he took off with her. I mean properly flat out- something he's certainly NEVER even tried before, so things are still very wrong. We walked him quietly round the paddock just so to end on a good calm note but im still very worried about him.
We are taking him to the vets on Tuesday afternoon. It was the soonest date his regular vet could commit to so hopefully that will give us some answers.
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It didn't jump out at me. But my calm loving 3yo turned into a wild beast overnight at last yard (I am 100% convinced someone hit her and I believe I know who) She jumped out of fields over 5bar gates, took almost 3 weeks to load back on a trailer and the second she did I moved her home. She literally breathed a sigh of relief and settled in the new field. No nerves over a 45 min journey or new horses/fields, just relief. Not completely back to old self, even calmer and more bonded than before. She also couldn't handle a big herd as wanted to be top dog, so in with one other now and possesive of me not the herd.

Over night she went from trotting up to anyone who entered the field and saying hello, to not being able to get within 10m of her and when we in the field for longer than a few mins, my old share horse would charge us and not let us near her, also out of character, had never ever turned on me and went flat at me with legs flying and very protective if 3yo got on edge.

I am convinced something happened with mine, maybe the riding with yours is trust gone? All guess work though unfortunately. Whatever it is I hope he is back to normal asap

Pan
 
Pan, Thats horrific It's just never really occurred tome but like i said before he was a really inquisitive pony and followed us round the field so it could well be he approached the wrong person. Your poor horse, I think id actually have hit someone had i seen that! and i seriously am the quietest most unconfrontatinal person ever!
Patterdale, I'd read that right and not even noticed what it actually said anyway ;-) My phone does the most random things!

I have told my daughter about Tuesday and she wants to be there. I had thought to keep it quiet but to be fair she's grown up enough and i think its probably more fair to keep her informed rather than in the dark.
 
McNally said:
Pan, Thats horrific It's just never really occurred tome but like i said before he was a really inquisitive pony and followed us round the field so it could well be he approached the wrong person. Your poor horse, I think id actually have hit someone had i seen that! and i seriously am the quietest most unconfrontatinal person ever!
Patterdale, I'd read that right and not even noticed what it actually said anyway ;-) My phone does the most random things!

I have told my daughter about Tuesday and she wants to be there. I had thought to keep it quiet but to be fair she's grown up enough and i think its probably more fair to keep her informed rather than in the dark.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I didn't witness it, but was just hours after I'd told someone I'd caught stealing property at yard that a theft report would be filed. I spent 3 weeks in tears knowing that I'd probably caused it to happen and that I'd let her down. Thankfully have been able to put it behind now I'm in a place where I am 100% happy with every aspect of her life right now.

I think you're right about your daughter, as long as she is not in the way to be hurt if he reacts, a friendly face is probably what the horse needs right now. As an aside, if anything uncomfortable has to happen with vet it may be wise for her not to be around and him associate her with it. But dependant on the horse, you and your daughter and vet.

Pan
 
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