URGENT. Is my horse blind?

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phpony

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Over the last couple of months I've noticed some changes in my horses behavior. The biggest one is, for example, when I call him from the field or he's looking at something in the distance he'll tilt his head to the side. To start with I thought it might be perhaps something in his neck paining him however recently a friend told me she knows someone who's horse did the exactly the same thing and she's been told its gone blind and she can no longer ride it. Thinking about this it would make sense. I've goggled some blindness symptoms and he appears to have quite a few of them. Before I always just thought about this as clumsiness but he has a tendency to trip ALOT . particually the last few months its got so far as i'll ask him to step up the curb or a verge and I know for deffinate he will trip. Jumping ditch jumps in cross country he simply runs and falls straight into them. I would call out the vet straight away but money is tight and I wouldn't want to have to pay for a call out if there is nothing wrong with him. So if anyone has any experience or advice they could give me that would be great as I want to be certain weather I should call the vet out tommorow. Thanks


* Also a few months ago he suddenly turned into an apsolute nightmare to ride. I dont no if that has anything to do with this.
 
Dancing Queen said:
what do his actual eyes look like - and tbh it does sound like you need the vet to come out - it certainly doesnt sound like a trival matter. x
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They don't look much difference to me but the again I have no experience about anything like this. And do you think the blindness will not affect me riding him then?
 
Does he react if you put your hand near his eyes? Ie blink or flinch away? Given your symptoms I would dedfinately get the vet out just to eliminate it and stop your worrying if nothing else. The last thing u want to do is continue riding a horse that could be blind, your putting both yourself and him at risk of a serious injury. It would not be normal for a horse to run straight into a ditch, stop and chuck you into it yes (in my experience, :) )
But not for him to run straight into it. Good luck and keep us updated x
 
phpony said:
They don't look much difference to me but the again I have no experience about anything like this. And do you think the blindness will not affect me riding him then?
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No-one on here can advise you. As everyone on this thread has said... you need to get the vet out.
 
Horses24-7 said:
Does he react if you put your hand near his eyes? Ie blink or flinch away? Given your symptoms I would dedfinately get the vet out just to eliminate it and stop your worrying if nothing else. The last thing u want to do is continue riding a horse that could be blind, your putting both yourself and him at risk of a serious injury. It would not be normal for a horse to run straight into a ditch, stop and chuck you into it yes (in my experience, :) )
But not for him to run straight into it. Good luck and keep us updated x
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I was trying about with stuff like that today if I put my finger near the top he blinks but if I do it near the bottom nothing happens and I can touch it before he actually blinks. Also if im holding a carrot and he's coming forward trying to grab it if i hold it up and to the right a little he's face simply goes blank like he dosnt understand were its gone. I think ill rign the vet just to make sure , Thanks x
 
This is one of those occasions when you do need to bite the bullet and call the vet. If he will travel, perhaps you could take him to the practice and save the call out? You cannot be too careful with eyes, it can very quickly change from a temporary to permanant issue, not worth the risk IMO. Even if it isn't eye related, if it is a huge change in behaviour over a relatively short time, it needs investigating.
 
dunkley said:
This is one of those occasions when you do need to bite the bullet and call the vet. If he will travel, perhaps you could take him to the practice and save the call out? You cannot be too careful with eyes, it can very quickly change from a temporary to permanant issue, not worth the risk IMO. Even if it isn't eye related, if it is a huge change in behaviour over a relatively short time, it needs investigating.
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Ok thankyou Im deffinatly going to rign the vet tommorow x
 
Do speak to your vet. He should be able to refer you to an equine eye specialist if he thinks its necessary. I had a horse checked out after some time wondering about him. It turned out he was going blind. Its better to know, than not know. On a positive note I know a couple of blind-in-one-eye riding horses that work and compete perfectly well once theyve adapted. It doesnt have to mean doom and gloom. :)
 
you do need the vet.

My friends horse is partially blind and she holds her head to one side - friend still rides her (hacking) but her eye is very blue, you do need the vet - no one can diagnose on a forum - Vets all the way am afraid.
 
I havent read any replies but please call vet - my mare - her history is long and awful before i bought her to basicallly save her - but one day as I put reins over head she throw head back - vet called - her optical nerves were shringking - since then been incidents and vet called and yes its progressing - right i dont want to be negative here so call vet then based on what they say you face the future - and please please if I can help advise at all please PM me - as i know its not end of world and so much you can do - my lass is only 13 bless her :) xxxx
 
sorry my reply sounds like i think your horse as sight problems and thats not i wanted to say - just if thats the diagonose sorry didnt word that right before :) xx
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You do need a vet.
But it may not be all bad, Our old pony went blind, not completely but we had the exact symptoms your describing. The vet confirmed she had lost most of her vision in both eyes. However she adapted very quickly with care. I rode her myself until she was back to normal then my daughter took over again. We were careful about t/o she went in a small safe paddock with one other horse and always the same horse. Feed, water,hay etc always had to be in the same place but it was ok she was ridden as usual etc.
Now we have a 4 yr old who went completely blind in one eye about 2 yrs ago. He too leads a normal life he has a few sight caused problems (he's stiff down one side and this can make his back sore) but with schooling he's getting better.
It may not be the very end of the world- I hope your wrong and he's ok but your vet will help you- Good luck xx
 
Hi, i would definatly call the vet. The mare i had on loan went completely blind in both eyes :(. Symptons first started to appear slowly, banging into things, walking straight into me, knocking her sides going through door etc, i told her owner and other people and they said i'm over thinking things. i carried on with her, she started to refuse jumping and wouldn't load. I called the vet and they said her sight was fine. she then had an accident in the field then was sent to get investigated.
You know your horse and whats normal so if your unsure ask lots of questions!
i hope everything turns out ok :)
 
You cant be too careful with eyes and his behaviour is a massive change in a short change of time. So I would get the vet out.

Please keep us updated on what the outcome is.
 
Agree with the others, you need a vet to find out if it is the eyes that are the problem so that you can make any changes to make his life easier, less scary and, of course, safer. You have to know what the restrictions to his sight mean if this is the case. Good luck and I really hope it turns out to be something manageable.
 
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