Due to an accident before I got her, my pony only has one eye. She doesn’t let it get her down and is very brave and drives wonderfully. She always checks in with me when something “scary” happens, but it’s rare that she even has to do that because almost nothing phases her. I am looking to get another mini as a companion for her and to drive them as a team, and I found this mini that also had an accident and has one eye that is trained to drive. Neither have went as a team before (that I know of), but I know my mare is pretty unflappable and if this gelding is as his current owner says, he may be a good teammate for her (of course I would want to drive him before I made a commitment) but I’m wondering what other people think about having two one eyed horses driving as a team. He’s kind of far away from me so it will be a bit of a drive (or even a plane ride) to try him so I wanted to see what other people thought.
I would think it would be better to have her team mate fully sighted and already used to driving as
part of a team. It would be one less variable to worry about. I would be worried about trying to compensate and “look ahead” for things that might bother them because of their visual limitations.With one it would be OK, but with two…well, I guess it would be twice the worry. But that’s just me. I am interested to see how other’s with much more experience than I will respond to your question.
Have fun mini shopping, I just took a new one in. They are so fun!
What kind of driving do you plan to use the Pair for? Could affect your choices.
Make sure they’ve lost opposite eyes.:winkgrin:
I’m actually serious. That way between the two of them they can see on either side. Two half blind ponies wouldn’t be my first choice for a pair, but I rather have a right & a left eye, than 2 rights or 2 lefts.
There is story in my family of Aggie the Ass and One-Eyed Warry*. They each had only one eye. It took Warry 30 min+ to catch Aggie in a 200sqft paddock/yard because they kept passing each other on their bad side.
*Larry also had a lisp.
[QUOTE=red mares;8738438]
Make sure they’ve lost opposite eyes.:winkgrin:
I’m actually serious. That way between the two of them they can see on either side. Two half blind ponies wouldn’t be my first choice for a pair, but I rather have a right & a left eye, than 2 rights or 2 lefts.
There is story in my family of Aggie the Ass and One-Eyed Warry*. They each had only one eye. It took Warry 30 min+ to catch Aggie in a 200sqft paddock/yard because they kept passing each other on their bad side.
*Larry also had a lisp.[/QUOTE]
Oh the bad places we could go, if we continue in this vein! Thanks for the laughs!!
[QUOTE=minidriver;8737563]
He’s kind of far away from me so it will be a bit of a drive (or even a plane ride) to try him so I wanted to see what other people thought.[/QUOTE]
Personally, I think it’s not a very smart idea. At all. You already have one handicapped pony. Why are you going far away (a plane ride away?) to get another? There should be plenty of fully sighted, competent minis in your area that drive, or are capable.
Be realistic and start looking for one with a good attitude, right size, and equal way of going that will compliment your current mini. And stop trying to make something “match” in the blindness category. That, as I just said, is not smart.
My thoughts.
OP, I applaud you for giving these ponies a chance. I see no problem with the second pony as you obviously have the ability and experience to overcome the pony’s handicap. I wish you the best and it’s great to see a true horseperson on this bb.
Sorry, going to have to side with GTD, in that going that far to get a pony with “an issue” is not the best idea. You only have his history from the owners, and sometimes they have not given ALL the information you need or minimize risks, deeper training issues. You will have money invested in him, just to get him home from far away, should he be free! But to pay for an animal that only has one eye, “might” be usable, not a good idea.
While you know your own pony, the other is totally an unknown. Not the time to think of Black Beauty, figure he will be wonderful because you expect that of him.
Even small equines have a LOT of power, you will not be able to hold him if he wants to run or act badly. Other pony may be helpful, but also might get caught in the excitement of the moment, want to run too. Pairs are like that. And between them they only have two eyes to look out for things.
Red Mares post of wanting them to have different eye lost, sounds terrible, but is actually on the right track. They can feel the other on the pole, eye on outside may be able to keep them safer in viewing surroundings.
OP, you will be better off, safer!, with a pony partner who has two good eyes as a choice to drive Pairs, be a companion to your mare.
Being a good Horseman has nothing to do with giving one-eye pony a chance. That person would be a kind-hearted one, not always a Horseman. Everything to do with future uses and safety of vehicle driver and the animals out front has to be considered carefully. Not all make good driving animals in all conditions. Not nice to be pointing fingers at us who don’t think it is a good idea. Have you driven a one-eyed animal or a Pair, Palm Beach? Do you drive much at all?
I appreciate the honest responses. I didn’t end up getting the other pony with one eye. For the record, they were missing opposite eyes and were both very experienced driving ponies. I’m now looking at a pony (without any sight issues) that has experience driving as a team- I think that this will be a better fit for my pony. My pony is missing her right eye… I’m interested to see if she does better seeing on the outside (going on the right side of the team) or seeing her buddy (going on the left side of the team)
