My mare wears a Guardian mask, but lately I’ve found that she really seems to have some trouble seeing in it. Her eyesight is fine, no loss of vision, but she’s got some real blind spots with the mask on, and has run into the gate a few times lately, ran into me the other day… I’m really not sure what to do - I don’t want to turn her out without it, but the poor girl really seems to struggle with it. Anyone else having this problem?
The only time my horse had impaired vision with the Guardian mask was when he truly lost partial sight in the one eye. Try using a regular flymask and see if your horse’s vision improves. If so, just use that instead.
Thumbs up for the Guardian Mask in terms of keeping the eye protected and comfortable. My guy has ERU and a cataract and has gone mostly blind in that eye. He will bump his head into things from time to time, more often when he’s in new environment, and the raised cups really help prevent an injury to his eye.
He’s also just about 6 weeks out from cylcosporine implant surgery - the mask helped keep ‘gunk’ from collecting in his eye. Because of all the ointments the raised cups meant the mask didn’t stick to his face, something I’d started to experience with the standard fly mask.
He’s out 24/7 and the mask does come off at night unless it’s windy. Luckily the other horses leave it alone, and Sully has yet to get it off himself. knock on wood However, he’s the type to be pretty easy on his ‘stuff’, and he doesn’t play hard.
Works for my Morgan
I had 600 dollars into my horse and $50 ointment per tube, then researched on the internet and found the Guardian Mask website.
I have not had any problems with her since and never used the last tube of medicine. They’re 99 dollars and believe me, I’ve tried to figure out how to make them myself but they last one year exactly so it’s nothing compared to the medicine you have to use otherwise. The rigid eye piece also keeps her from walking up to something sharp and scratching her eye! If anyone tells you anything different, I would say try it yourself at least because it doesn’t hurt! My girl is 100 percent better!
In regards to the Respire, I like the fact it has Turmeric in it, but, I have tried to put the spice on his feed and he will not eat it. For those of you who feed Respire, any issues with getting the horse to eat it? I hate to spend $45 on something he might not eat.
There is another thread on CoTH that mentions 2 other brands of masks for keeping the sun away from the eyes.
The guardian can rub like crazy, happened to a pony at one barn.
I shared on the other thread — Horsey Shades works better for my horse. The Guardian caused rubs unfortunately.
