an issue with the new pony

[Shawn]

We've had Skittles now for about six weeks. I have been the one that primarily feeds her, since DD can't handle the big mares crowding around her pushing for grain. I've watched this pony while I fed her, opened gates, seen her "miss" the fact that the gate was open until she turned and came around again. I have come to the conclusion that her peripheral vision is severely impaired. I think my instincts with animals are pretty good, and it just seems to me that she is not seeing well enough out the sides to make out what something is and thus the reason for the way she turns her head (to face things) and subsequently goes sideways. She has to be pretty darn calm at heart, because she could just freak out and jump over, but she just moves quickly over and looks, then realizes it's not something to be afraid of.
I noticed clearly last night that she was very concerned where the car was that passed by on the road. We were a good 200' off the road in our yard and she turned quickly around, intent on finding the car as it passed by. Maybe because she's out of the familiar area of the corral it was more concerning to her.

But, on the positive side, she has improved LEAPS and BOUNDS in trust from the first two times I saddled her. She now stands relatively quietly and doesn't move extremely from side to side. I'm contemplating starting to let the off side stirrup drop over on her and see what she does. that would have been a send-me-over-the-moon thing before.

During feeding time, I let her through a small gate and she comes around to her bucket. I then shut the gate and walk over and clip her to a lead that's on the fence. This way she can't go out into the pasture. When she's done, she goes back in the horse pen. At first I couldn't let the snap of the leadrope hit the fence or bucket at all, as she would throw her head. Gradually, it's been that I can let go of the lead further away and now she nary flinches at all. So I think she trusts me and responds well. She definitely aims to please.
It really got to me last night when I realized just the extent of how poorly she may not be seeing. My heart just broke for her. I so want her to feel safe and trust DD as a rider to not get her into trouble. DD and I talked about that quite a bit while she was riding her, that people do even ride blind horses. Skittles is so willing, it seems so unfair to her and I can only imagine what a superb pony she would be without this issue.

What do you think about a pair of blinders? I thought they might calm her by dispelling the shadowy things that are bugging her? Anyone use them on a riding horse??

Is there anything I can do to improve or keep her vision from getting any worse?

[AnnB (NE)]

Could it be a glare problem?
Our pony (Gracie) has vision/glare problems in bright sunlight, but she does just fine when she's wearing a flymask. Without the mask she's flighty and jumps at every little movement off to her sides, but with the flymask she's real steady.

Ann B

Sent from my Ally using ProBoards

[marseydoats]

My barrel horse had EXTREME vision problems at dawn and dusk as he aged. And when a sudden thunderstorm would blow up. His eyes just couldn't re-focus that fast. We finally decided that he had had a mild stroke. We were just EXTRA careful with him, he wasn't allowed to walk up to the barn at night, had to be led, and if it looked like a storm was coming in, we'd go and retrieve him and put him in his stall.
The really wierd thing was that he got to where he seemed to have lost 60 -70% of his vision, was having trouble seeing even in normal daylight. We moved to the new farm and in about 6 mos he had nearly normal vision. The only thing that changed was the quality of the grass.
Vitamin A and kelp are both good for vision, you could just put some A capsules on her feed if she'll eat them.
Many people ride partially blind or fully blind horses and don't have problems. When my App went blind from that horrid disease that Apps get that I have no idea how to spell, I rode him in the paddock so he could have exercise. If I'd had somebody to go out with, he probably could have gone trail riding but he was too flighty to try and take out by himself.
Good luck!

[suburbancow]

As I started reading your post I was thinking that maybe a pair of blinkers might help! I never used them on my horses so I don't really know how you would go about introducing them, especially as she is already getting used to so many new things at once. Do you have any racing connections that might be able to give you advice on the use of blinkers?

Cheers.

[wyomama]

Do you notice a difference in her likelihood to spook at things approaching from the side when you are with her, vs when she is alone / away from you? I ask because my horse Asay, when he was young, Dad and I were convinced that he had some kind of a vision problem in his right eye. (He broke my nose when I was haltering him once) It turned out that it was a hypersensitivity issue, there may have been some kind of vision deficit that made it worse, but training and lots of desensitizing solved the problem. Our big clue was that a dog or another horse approaching from the right didn't bother him, it was only people or something that had been imposed on him in some way. He'd still rather have you on his left, but he doesn't spook about the right side anymore.

[missevelyn]

Skittles will be very rideable if she trusts her rider to be in charge. My dh used to chase cows on his kid's blind Welsh pony/cob. He popped her over ditches! My youngest rode her Appy mare on trails when Jo was stone blind from ERU (I can't spell it either.) Steering involved, right/left/stop with the reins, go with leg cues and easy for poor footing, up for going up hill and down for down hill. She was a good ride.

Blinders are used in harness horses so they don't see what's coming up behind them/beside them. I prefer working open so the horse is never startled by an accidental sight of what ever equipment. That said, blinders are good for some horses for that reason. Can't see it, don't jump away from it. Staple some temp blinders on her head stall and ask her. She'll know what she thinks.

Regina

[pameladragon]

Poor Skittles! But she has a good home with people who obviously are trying to make her happy and feel safe.

Thoroughbreds are frequently ridden with blinders so they can't see the horses coming up beside them. The blinders are like a chunk of tennis ball attached to a hood that fits over the horse's head. The cup part covers the side of the eye and blocks their peripheral vision.

If Skittles is already lacking peripheral vision, I don't think blinders will help her. What does your vet say?

Good luck!
Pamela

[Shawn]

Ann, interesting thought about the fly mask. I don't know the answer to that and don't have a fly mask, but will see about getting one.

Well, last night we got her out in the corral only and she was really acting like a "hot" horse. I think I'm going to cut her grain out for a bit and see. DD was getting more than a little scared and I don't want to spoil a good thing. It took many rounds of walking before I saw Skittles relax. (I've taken to singing a very silly made up song about the jolly green giant to distract DD.) I did schedule 4 riding lessons for her and Skittles, they start Thursday night. We need to build back some confidence in both of them.

Wy: During the first few days we had her in the corral with the cows, I did see her (alone) wheel around quickly and face the road when a car went by. I can't say that I've seen enough other things to indicate one way or the other.
Marsey: I'm wondering if hers isn't somewhat nutrition related, too. That's why I've been pushing the kelp. I may have to give her a touch of grain just to get some of the supplements in her. Her coat has improved substantially since we got her, she's now shed off all that straggly winter coat.

I do know when I got home last night, driving in, I could see DD trying to get the saddle on her. DH was with her and I knew instantly something wasn't right. I got out and walked over. DH questioned whether she was to be saddling her without me, I said, yes, she can practice putting it on, no riding though, yet. So he left and I realized he had tightened the saddle waaayyy too tight. (He doesn't do horses, so forgive him) and also the saddle pad was not under the saddle, ties were caught underneath, etc. So I pointed these things out to DD, she's a quick study. We got the saddle situated correctly and that combined with DH leaving, Skittles settled right down. So I'm assuming a man has probably not been kind to her in the past. We will work on that. DH can feed treats!

Evelyn: It is amazing what people can do with blind horses, or more aptly, what blind horses will do for certain people. I know if Skittles learns to trust DD, it will go much better for all involved. I just have to get them both to that point.

Pamela D: I think she sees some, hence the reaction to move over and check it out further. It's almost worse than not having any peripheral vision. (and I have not had the vet out yet)

As for the blinders, I'm going to take her to lessons, talk to that lady about it and see if she can help me "test" out my theory a bit. Then I may staple some cardboard on her halter to test out the use of blinders a bit before investing in some.

Thanks for all the ideas, if you have more, keep them coming.

[AnnB (NE)]

Is it possible that she's just not used to vehicles passing by on a road?
I had a pony years ago that reacted like that to cars passing by. Dad moved her to the small pasture next to a busy road and right next to our parking lot (my parents had a restaurant and packaged liquor store) so that she could learn that cars don't chase ponies, and within a couple of months she was steady as a rock around traffic.

C-2 and Gracie were both like that about tractors when they first got here, but we have enough tractors and heavy equipment pass by their pen & pasture that they don't pay any attention now.

Ann B

Sent from my Ally using ProBoards

[jerseyrose]

Is it possible to get confirmation from a vet on what exactly the problem is? It would be awful to find out later that it was something that could have been cured. Many horses do well with limited vision and it sounds like you have many great ideas here. I guess I would be concerned because you have a youngster riding her and without knowing exactly how limited her vision may be( or where) she could have some pretty explosive reactions that might put her rider at risk.

[Shawn]

Julie, I will get her checked out, was just hoping to combine a vet visit. I really am interested to see if there's anything reasonable that can be done for her.

We do have a year's worth of background on her in which the previous owner had kids on her and reported the same things I have, just skittering away quickly from things, but no buck, kick, bite or explosive behavior. I know it's not a "for sure" deal, but I just have a sense about this horse that she's not going to be that way. I wrote more about her history in a previous thread in this section.

[Shawn]

Ann, it was more like because she was out of the "normal" places for her to be, she wanted to confirm where the car was. I will have to pay attention to that, though, as several places we ride, we have to cross or ride next to busier roads.

[jerseyrose]

May 24, 2012 15:06:28 GMT -5 Shawn said:

Julie, I will get her checked out, was just hoping to combine a vet visit. I really am interested to see if there's anything reasonable that can be done for her.

We do have a year's worth of background on her in which the previous owner had kids on her and reported the same things I have, just skittering away quickly from things, but no buck, kick, bite or explosive behavior. I know it's not a "for sure" deal, but I just have a sense about this horse that she's not going to be that way. I wrote more about her history in a previous thread in this section.

If she is consistent in her reactions that is good. But I would think that if her problem were to get worse or change her reactions may too as her sight is diminished. I am glad you will have the vet out. Good luck.