Gropony
Well-Known Member
Hi all
I have an 8 year old pony with uveitis in one eye. I don't know if he had it before I had him, he has only had one flare up in the last year that I have had him, which left a small cataract and a couple of "accrochages" (I don't know the word in English) on his cornea. Since then there is no sign, he wears a Guradian mask or sunglasses when outside. We don't know whether he had an injury that caused it or if he already had it, the vet did all the tests for bacterial infecton etc and there was nothing. And as I said there is no issue since this flare up cleared up.
He has been stabled with turnout from November to last week, and his stable is in a barn, so he could take off his mask when he was inside. Since last week they are 24 hours in the field, which is obviously lovely, but it means he has his mask on 24 hours a day. I have very mixed feelings about this, because I am 100% sure that at some point it will start to rub, and it can't be pleasant in any event. He doesn't seem to mind, and I change it for the sunglasses when we are riding etc so that he has a change.
However, I am now questioning if I should move him somewhere where he can be stabled at night so that he can have a break from his mask. I cannot take it off at night n the field because the stables are only open from 8.30am to 8.30pm and the sun is already up (this is the case for everywhere around me). Also, there is no indoor arena, and if there was I could take it off in there as well.
I feel very conflicted about this, because of course he loves being in the field all day and night. There is no option where he is to bring him in during the day or night between April and October. Ideally he should be somewhere where he can be inside during the day and out at night, but this does not exist where I am. So my best option would be somewhere where he is in at night, with an indoor arena. The nearest place for this is an hour's drive away
and this would mean I can only go on the weekend and he would spend at least 16 hours a day stabled. I am minded to see how it goes this summer and decide in the autumn.
I was wondering if any of you with horses that have the condition could give me your experience of how you manage it? The only other person I know, her mare had it at 20 and was completely blind by 23. She lives happily with her field mate to guide her around, but this is a different situation.
Thank you!
I have an 8 year old pony with uveitis in one eye. I don't know if he had it before I had him, he has only had one flare up in the last year that I have had him, which left a small cataract and a couple of "accrochages" (I don't know the word in English) on his cornea. Since then there is no sign, he wears a Guradian mask or sunglasses when outside. We don't know whether he had an injury that caused it or if he already had it, the vet did all the tests for bacterial infecton etc and there was nothing. And as I said there is no issue since this flare up cleared up.
He has been stabled with turnout from November to last week, and his stable is in a barn, so he could take off his mask when he was inside. Since last week they are 24 hours in the field, which is obviously lovely, but it means he has his mask on 24 hours a day. I have very mixed feelings about this, because I am 100% sure that at some point it will start to rub, and it can't be pleasant in any event. He doesn't seem to mind, and I change it for the sunglasses when we are riding etc so that he has a change.
However, I am now questioning if I should move him somewhere where he can be stabled at night so that he can have a break from his mask. I cannot take it off at night n the field because the stables are only open from 8.30am to 8.30pm and the sun is already up (this is the case for everywhere around me). Also, there is no indoor arena, and if there was I could take it off in there as well.
I feel very conflicted about this, because of course he loves being in the field all day and night. There is no option where he is to bring him in during the day or night between April and October. Ideally he should be somewhere where he can be inside during the day and out at night, but this does not exist where I am. So my best option would be somewhere where he is in at night, with an indoor arena. The nearest place for this is an hour's drive away
and this would mean I can only go on the weekend and he would spend at least 16 hours a day stabled. I am minded to see how it goes this summer and decide in the autumn.I was wondering if any of you with horses that have the condition could give me your experience of how you manage it? The only other person I know, her mare had it at 20 and was completely blind by 23. She lives happily with her field mate to guide her around, but this is a different situation.
Thank you!
