I just adopted a 6 year old blind pony from a rescue. My horse (19 years old) has been kept alone for a few years and I thought she really needed a companion. This pony has never been on pasture, so the rescue suggested we keep her and my horse in the dry lot for a week to bond. They did great the first two days, but yesterday when I got home I noticed the pony was in a pasture and cattle panels around the dry lot were down (The t post I use to keep it up were bent). I brought her in and put the fence back up (will be reinforcing it). When my horse saw her she charged and penned back her ears. When the pony heard this she took off into the fence. I separated the horses for the night, but the poor pony would not stop pacing until I put her in a stall.
We only have a small property so I am not sure I can keep these two completely separated long term. My current setup is a barn stall that is 24x8 with two slider doors out to the dry lot. Connected to the dry lot are 3 small pasture areas. My horse is currently in a pasture and the pony in the dry lot with the stall. We could divide the stall into two and try to figure out a way to divide the dry lot. Does anyone have any suggestions? Do you think if I keep them separated when I am away and then allow them a little time together in the evening they can improve? The rescue will take her back, but I hate to do this.
I would separate for 4-6 weeks and see where you are but you might never be able to put them together. Your horse might not understand the other horse is blind. It doesn’t mean they don’t or won’t like each other. My gelding can be aggressive but he and my mare love each other, even though he bullies her so much i have to keep them separately.
I don’t have any suggestions about your situation but you should post this in the Horse Care or Off Course sections and I think you’ll get some good ideas
I think observing, I.e. watching them, would be helpful.
Maybe the didn’t see horse was blind and surprised him.
Id put little bells in the ponies mane and see how that works.
Maybe the pony took his food, which might be a problem.
You could try a chute, just parallel fencing to the current fence, but not closed. Pony could run in there for safety.
Pony needs a safe space, blind guy needs a warning system.
My post got wiped.
Bottom line, pony needs a safe space, blind horse needs a warning system.
A line of parallel fence next to existing fence, open on both ends would provide a run in chute for pony. Must be 3 horse lengths long.
Put ting bells in pony’s mane, so horse gets a warning system.
Separate food piles.
And spend some time watching them to see what’s going on.
Good question, but wrong section to post this in. Maybe mods can move this to horse care for OP?
Folks, pony is the blind one- horse has vision.
My gelding was put in a dry lot w/ an old blind mare when he was about 2 or so BUT he was very submissive even though
he was at least a foot taller. the old mare got him in shape real fast by teaching him where he could stand, when he could move, etc. The blind mare was the dominant on.
Sounds like your horse is dominating the blind pony right now. I wouldn’t put them together for several weeks only side by side. And when you get ready to introduce them to the same area you need to be there to supervise.
Sometimes ponies are sensitive to being dominated by big horses and may over react, but if pony can’t see it has no defense other than run through the fence.
