My old TB gelding had to have an enucleation due to cancer. I was a nervous wreck bringing him home after surgery, but he acted like nothing was amiss. Having so many issues with that eye for the 6 months before the enucleation probably helped ease him into it. I always made sure to speak to him when coming up to him on his left side (side of enucleation), but even when someone else came up to him on his blind side without making their presence known he would rarely spook. The biggest lesson I learned was his first 4th of July when my mare ran him into the fence on his blind side spooking at fireworks (it was after the 4th, but my neighbors had a party complete with fireworks). My mare and the other gelding he was out with always seemed to take care of him up until this point, so I would recommend taking a good look at turnout partners as well as turnout conditions. The only other concession I made with him was in the trailer. When he initially had the surgery I had a 3H slant and he was normally the first horse in but that put his neighbor on his blind side, so in that trailer I would put him in the middle. Then I got a 2H straight load so for the first few times, though he was the smaller of my two, he rode on the drivers side so he could see my mare. After a few trailer rides he was more confident and was okay on the passenger side. Other than those small things he was exactly the same horse. He was still confident on the trails and we even jumped some small courses (he hated retirement). Oh and to add, he would not wear a fly mask after surgery. I think he relied so much on his right eye that the obstruction in his vision from the mask made him extremely nervous. But then again before surgery he wasnât a huge fan of a mask. Good luck!
[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;5777516]
I still lead from the left, though his left eye is removed . That iscwhat Nevis used to and I think he takes some comfort that I am on his blind side, that I âhave his backâ. His one pasture pal is usually on that side as well.[/QUOTE]
Glad you found a ride home for your girl (Iâm the one who called you a few nights ago about the ride, and our phones dropped out).
BINGO on Pennywellâs comment â if your mare is used to you being the âlead mareâ and being on her left, sheâll be glad to have you there still, watching out for her on that side.
JeanM, that was you?! What a small world! Yes I got my girl home safe and sound. I was amazed and humbled by how many people stepped up to offer rides to get her home. It is nice to know there are so many good people out there in this world!
Finally managed to get Lizzy out of her stall today a couple times in between all the rain we are getting here in CT.
The first time out she was really strong and was trying to drag me around. I think she was forgetting I was there since she couldnât see me. I switched her lead to one with a chain over her nose and she was much better and walked along more like the lady she usually is.
I did notice her taking an extra look or two before she would go back into her stall tonight, just let her check things out and she walked right on in.
The biggest goof I made with my horse after his eye was removed happened while riding with a friend. We had stopped and were chatting facing each other, while our horses (who knew each other well) were sniffing noses. My friendâs horse swung his head to get a fly that was bothering him and clobbered my guy on his blind side - totally my fault. I felt terrible and after that experience, I was very careful about always placing him where he could see what was coming.
My older horse is left-side blind, and I have to lead her on the right side now because she has always been very visual (start walking when you walk, stop when you stop) and she couldnât figure out stopping/starting with just a verbal cue. lol Sheâs never had any confidence issues with the blind side being âunprotected,â she leaves it to me to figure out if we have enough room and walks straight on in whatever direction weâre pointing.
Other than leaving her eye whiskers, the only thing thatâs changed is she now goes out with only one buddy instead of the whole group, because she was getting a little beaten up on the side that the others could sneak up on easily. I donât think she minds, sheâs an old lady now and what with her arthritis and suspensory issue and everything else she wasnât really going racing around or anything anyway.
Thanks to everyone who has posted on this topic. My 9 year old haflinger is having his eye removed due to cancer the end of this month and I have been sick to my stomach about taking his eye. Itâs comforting to read they do just fine. He has vision out of the eye still and being a vet tech I hate that I canât explain to him why his vision will be gone. So thank you.
Iâm scheduling the same thing with my horse soon. Nice thing is that he is already blind, so adjustment shouldnât be a biggie. I have done a ton of asking around and researching, and it looks like it generally goes well.
When he started going blind, I realized the importance of handling him from both sides and voice commands. I also talk to him non-stop. Every body language cue I had now has a verbal cue. He has sight in one eye, but I am teaching âstep upâ and âstep downâ and other cues that will be handy for the day I might need them.
This whole experience is teaching me the value of making sure all of my horses are comfortable being handled from either side.
My mare preferred me to handle her on the blind side. She trusted that I was there to watch over her. She went out normally and with a herd of compatible horses. Lived many years with one eye and was ridden as well. DJD ultimately got her, not colic (she also had 2 colic surgeries before eye removal) and nothing to do with her eye.
Iâm sure your mare will be fine and adjust well. Fungal infections can be difficult to treat, one we treated successfully with another horse, my mare was not successful.
