Would you remove an eye or PTS?

[muckypony]

I think you should give him a chance, otherwise you might wake up every day thinking 'what if'... You can pts further down the road if it isn't working, but at least you know that you tried.

Good luck, horrible situation to be in

 

[Ahrena]

I would defo give him a chance with 1 eye.

My boy only has one. I never knew him with 2, but previous owner said he was back to himself on the ground within 3 weeks and back competing only 6 weeks after the operation!

I've competed him up to novice BE and 1.10m bs, although dropped down a bit as I had some confidence issues (nothing to do with the eyethough). Literially does not bother him, he's won 2 out of 3 starts BE this year and came 4th in the third. Does tight jump off turns, hacks out beautifully and I can lead horses from him on his blind side.

It does help he has his traffic eye, but then again, when I've moved onto a verge to let traffic past when he can't see it, he's fine too.

I am lucky in that his general disposition is horizontal and he is very laid back so that helps but honestly, he is by far the best horse i'ce ever had and I fully intend to take him further up the levels.

Just a thought - I'm not sure why yours is having an eye removed, but i'm guessing it's not due to accident but more due to an ongoing condition? If he is losing sight in the eye currently and is partially blind, could that have something to do with the spookiness? Just a thought as i worked with partially blind horse and she was very spooky/scatty, but once she lost sight in that eye completely she calmed down, and we thought it was possibly due to seeing through shadows made it worse than not seeing at all?

At the end of the day though, I may of got lucky with mine, but I have heard many other stories of 1 eyed horse's living happily, but it's your horse and you know him best. No one would think badly of you for pts if you feel its the best decision for him.

I just thought I'd share my experience.

 

[hayinamanger]

Tough one, as it very much depends on the horse. I used to ride a horse which was blind in one eye, he had a cataract so the loss of his sight had been a gradual process. I think that is the key. If the horse has had sight problems for a period of time, he could find the adjustment easier. If the problem is due to an acute injury/condition, it may be harder for him to cope.

 

[hest]

Our little mini contracted uveitis and eventually had his eye removed this time last year. His dam was appaloosa and they are apparently more prone to the disease. It took him at least 6 months to get used to it and he was jumpy and nervous to start with but a year on and he has really settled with it. Our vet is an eye specialist so we were lucky in that he had the op done at home.

We have learnt to use our voices more round him and if I come up on his blind side I always put my hand on him and talk to him as I approach his head. As long as his other eye holds he'll be fine. He flies over little jumps in hand, does in hand showing and is a happy pony again. It did take time though. He is more wary in the field though and doesn't like the other two being on his blind side.

I wouldn't worry about the riding side of it -they get used to it. I've heard numerous stories about one-eyed hunters and so on. There was even a one-eyed runner at Cheltenham a couple of years ago and someone locally does med/advanced dressage on her one-eyed horse. If you go down the op route it's going to take time and patience on your side. I do feel for you though

 

[leah_x]

Some horses cope some dont, you won't know unless you try.
We had one at college who had one eye (kicked by his mother as a baby) bit spooky but as long as you were singing or talking to him he was fantastic - a cheeky little ****** really!
We have many at work who have unfortunately had to have an eye removed and all have coped very well.
Also had one who was totally blind, probably the best behaved horse I have ever met!

 

[Zargon_91]

This depends entirely on the horse I think, but OP there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty if you should decide to PTS, if that is influencing your decision. People seem to forget there are far worse things to do to a horse than put them to sleep.
Hope you find the answer right for your horse
l

 

[shmoo]

Hi, two horses near me have one eye. One has had it totally removed and is frankly amazing. Took a year or so to fully get used to it, but now it doesn't stop her doing anything. The woman who rides (and hunts) her has to line her up fully before jumping, but thats about the only issue riding wise. She is fully netted with special fly cream in summer as flies are a problem, but she's better than a lot of fully sighted horses I know.

The other, a gelding kept his eye, mostly due to his owners amazing stamina with drops every 6 hours (day and night) for a month. He is blind on that side but looks normal. He is a lot more spooky now though, but can still do everything he ever used to.

It's a tough choice, my thoughts are with you.x.

 

[kirstie]

I was in the exact same position as you OP.

My horse contracted uveitis and it just kept coming back and after an 8 month battle, I had a decision to make. He was sharp, spooky, nervous and prone to blind bolting (he once galloped full pelt into a tree and did serious damage to his shoulder before I had him). My vet said if he removed the eye with a view to me bringing him back to work, he would be signing my death warrant.

I could not afford to have two, he was 10 so would have been a long retirement that I couldn't afford and I wanted something that I could ride, not an expensive field ornament.

I had him PTS. I don't regret it and I don't feel bad. This is a hobby that I enjoy, it is too expensive not to enjoy it! If you want to PTS then do it.

 

[cellie]

Another vote for giving him chance.My friends horse had only just been backed when she lost her eye she s one of the most laid back horses on yard it hasn't affected her at all.

 

[Jools2345]

Another vote for giving him chance.My friends horse had only just been backed when she lost her eye she s one of the most laid back horses on yard it hasn't affected her at all.

the op has stated this is not a laid back horse with 2 eyes!

 

[windand rain]

I am with Alec too if the horse is operated on then PTS it will have suffered the pain and risks of the op for no reason especially if the owner is worried by it and not able to cope with the issues involved the Horse would be far better PTS.
But then I wouldnt operate on a colicking horse either so maybe my views are biased I prefer not to deliberately inflict pain and suffering on my animals in the hope they make a full recovery.
ETA just because you can do something doesnt mean you should quality of life over quantity in every case for me

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

I ride a horse for someone and he is totally blind in one eye. It doesnt effect him at all he still jumps, dressages and hacks out. Not spooky and adapted very well. I dont doubt that one day his fully blind eye will be removed

 

[Mongoose11]

the op has stated this is not a laid back horse with 2 eyes!

Ahhh feck it then, if the horse spooked a few times in the last decade he may as well be put to sleep

 

[Mongoose11]

I am with Alec too if the horse is operated on then PTS it will have suffered the pain and risks of the op for no reason especially if the owner is worried by it and not able to cope with the issues involved the Horse would be far better PTS.
But then I wouldnt operate on a colicking horse either so maybe my views are biased I prefer not to deliberately inflict pain and suffering on my animals in the hope they make a full recovery.
ETA just because you can do something doesnt mean you should quality of life over quantity in every case for me

'death on table' risks and during recovery don't compare for eye surgery and colic surgery so a fairly moot point here. I don't understand how having one eye would mean it would have no 'quality of life' and that is having watched a young mare get over an eye loss very quickly....

 

[muckypony]

Just to add (although I'm sure OP already knows) if it is simply removing the eye then it is done under sedation not GA so the risks of operating are much less than say colic surgery etc. When I was in the same situation I was basically told that removing an eye is done very often.

 

[Montyforever]

I know a horse that only has one eye and until you get up close you wouldn't even notice! He doesn't act any different to a horse with 2 eyes, I've known a blind pony too with progressive and nasty conditions in both eyes, in the ponies case I would have PTS but if it's just a simple eye removal I would give it a go

 

[windand rain]

I didnt actually compare the two if you read correctly the quality of life in a one eyed horse can be perfect but the OP clearly says his quality of life is compromised now and the person doesnt feel confident handling this horse and giving it a quality of life. Yes it may well be that someone else could give that life but the OP says they cannot. There are hundreds possibly thousands of fit healthy horses with two eyes not living a good quality of life so why pass on one that isnt. I do think the choice in this case is fairly obvious the OP clearly feels unable to keep a one eyed horse regardless of their reasons why so it would be better PTS

 

[Flora]

I work in an equine vets and we have had several horses in that have had their eye removed. We had one last week that was very nervous and jumpy (he is 7 yrs) when he came in. After the eye was out, the day after he was fine. You just have to remember their blind side when you are working around them. In my opinion they adjust fine and I would definately opt for enucleation than pts, but then again it all depends on other factors and you are the only one that knows the horse.

 

[Polos Mum]

I know a horse that competed BS with only one eye and often placed. OP could the ongoing problems with the eye be contributing to the spookiness? If he has partial vision or sees shadows it will be more frighterning for him than seeing nothing (when eye removed).

I'd asked vet about risks of removal surgery (and cost if not covered by insurance) if it's a simple operation without GA I'd do the operation and see how it goes. Very difficult to guess how they will cope based on how they are now - I would have thought.

 

[hula]

I'd give it a go

I used to ride a horse that had an eye removed aged 11. She coped very very well, and no more spooky than before. She did obviously turn her head in a more exaggerated fashion if she was having a look at something, but not an issue. No scar, and you wouldn't know she didn't have an eye unless you really looked at her.

Gorgeous horse, she's 18 now and I regularly see her hacking out.

 

[Barney&Buzz]

One of mine would be fine with one eye, the other I would PTS as he wouldn't cope. You know your horse best, I have known 2 one eyed horses, both went on to live full active lives. The competition mare returned to her full self and was never hindered by loosing an eye. The other was a huge Clydesdale and it didn't bother him in the slightest either.

 

[Janette]

My mare had an eye removed 3 years ago, because of cancer. She has coped brilliantly, in fact, she's better now than she was before. More relaxed. She used to be a real stress head, would pull, fight, and argue. Now, I think her eye was causing her pain and her attention was on dealing with that and everything else was just a bit too much. I have found that she deals with things far better now.

I took her to an indoor dressage competition 7 weeks after the operation and she got the best score she had ever got - 71%. She concentrated on me, far more than she had ever done before.

It does take them a little while to adjust, and they need to learn to use their ears more. She has lost her left eye and her left ear swiveled like a radar dish as she adjusted. For a while, she was a bit spooky but soon settled. Every now and then, there is a 'Where the ****** did that come from?', and when we go to shows, the judge has to walk around her sighted side first because she turns on the forehand to keep him in her field of vision.
She loads, travels, competes, hacks...... In fact, we've won far more without the eye than we ever did with it.

I thought about the PTS option, but I'm glad I didn't.

This is her blind side. We won this class

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

I have loaned a warmblood in the past who only had one eye. I lightly backed her at 3 and turned her away. She got a thorn in her eye and had to have it removed. She was the sweetest mare and coped fine. She did take some time to readjust and we were carefull to always let her know when we were on her blind side.
Obviously it depends on your horse but I would say most of the time horses with one eye adjust well and can live a normal life.
Good luck with your decision x

 

[hnmisty]

I might have missed it, but how old is he? That'd have a bearing on my decision.

I knew a girl in the pony club whose pony had one eye, didn't stop her doing anything!

 

[kirstys 1]

My friend had a horse with one eye (lost it aged about 10 - 12 I think) and she hunted and showjumped quite happily.

 

[Buds_mum]

Sorry if this has been has said

If her eye is due to be removed then what is her extent of sight in it at this moment in time??

If it is already poor then is she ok? Is she adjusting?

I would always give her a chance to adjust, you can always pts at a later date? If she doesnt cope at all...

 

[Gingersmum]

We have a Shetland who has only one eye. He was fine from day one and has a happy life.

It can be done but you sound as if your decision is already made.

Only you know know your horse and you are a caring owner for considering the options and doing the best thing for your horse and yourself.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

It's the hardest decision and I don't know what to do. I won't go into the ins/out of it but i'd just like some more opinions (it might help me) . One eye can't be saved so we are left with two options as stated in my title.

My worry is he would not cope very well with one eye, he can be unpredictable at times however other times he is v chilled out. Would he become too spooky to ride or me not feel confident riding him? You do hear about freak accidents. I could never hack him out.

On the other hand, am i being selfish having him PTS? should i be keeping him as a field ornament and have nothing to ride for the next 15 years.

I don't know if that all makes sense, i'm not in the best place of mind at the moment, i've been up all night and vets are pushing me for an answer. I feel the vet thinks PTS.

Simple yes he will cope, my first mare lost 95 % of her vision at the end - she coped, horse do as people do. His other senses will get stronger, and horses with one eye do manage to have a normal life.
I hacked out with her even when blind in one eye and 60% vision GONE in the other - (cataract detached the lense.) She loved hacking but I always had a good contact and she had 100% trust in me so hacked out as normal.

So I would advise surgery, I presume you asked your vets advise??

 

[Mongoose11]

I do not understand any human who is prepared to say they would pts as they know their horse wouldn't cope! How do you know? Have you previously removed one of its eyes and saw it didn't cope and then popped it back in?

No situation a horse has been in before is the same as having an eye removed so how do you know it wouldn't cope? Quality of health is not compromised.

 

[touchstone]

Having seen a couple of one eyed horses who coped as well as those with full vision, it's an op that I'd be prepared to do for mine.

I agree with those who say that the horse could well be having spooking issues due to poor vision on that side and once the eye is removed the spooking lessens or is at least no worse. I'd imagine it would have the effect of blinkers on a driving horse.

I'd definitely give it a go, I think you'd face more regrets by putting to sleep and then wondering if the horse could have been okay with the op.