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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
 
Location: Millington, TN | My horse just recently went blind. Well I am worried about her. My mom found her in the swimming pool Friday. We got her out and she is fine. My horses stay at my mom and dad's house. Both of them are not horse people. My blind horse runs into the electric fence. So my only options at this point are to find her a home that can care for her or put her down. I don't want to put her down just because she is blind but my parents are pushing me to do something. Yesterday was a much better day for my horse but she still run into the fence twice that I know of. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or a place I can give her too? I don’t want to give up on her. I am thinking of making a pool noodle fence so she will hit the pool noodle instead of the electric fence but I don't think my parents will go for this.....
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
   
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Â If she's really sane and quiet on the ground a therapy place might be an option as a home. 4H and pony club too. I used to own a completely blind mare and the biggest thing they need is a safe controlled environment that doesn't change. You can do bells on the fence but they have to learn that they're there. Not all horses can handle being blind, and most can't handle electric fencing because they panic when they bump into the charge. They'll always be bumping into it and getting shocked. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | She is too hot for therapy. I wish I could find someone that could just take her that had alot of pasture. I dont have much. I have been giving her ace the past few days to calm her down but I also don't want her to suffer......god this is hard. I have a had her for 11 years and she is only 18 :( |
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Is she on feed or pasture/hay only? You might be able to cut her feed out and just feed grass hay. That would calm her some. There's also grief counseling places that use horses for that and they don't have to be as steady as regular therapy. Check around with 4H and riding clubs too. Something else to consider, you could get some round pen panels and make her a paddock area for a while until,she gets used to not having sight. Maybe a buddy like a goat or another horse that she gets along with that can lead her around. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I know people with blind horses that have put pea gravel down within 3-4 feet of the fence, so that the horse learned once it stepped on gravel, the fence was going to be there, too. They also had a pasture buddy with a bell on them for the blind horse to follow.
It's not the same, but I have a cat that was born with no eyes. It's insane how well he gets around. I know it's different because he was born that way and your horse is having to adapt, but I wouldn't put her down. Someone will be able to take care of her, even if you cant :) |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | For now I would not be letting her out in a pasture, she needs to be in a smaller place like a smaller corral/pen with safe fencing for her and get her a buddy that she can pal around with, being out in a pasture is not a safe place her at this time, she needs to have a safe place for now. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | My mom just checked on her and she was grazing. She does get feed and hay (hay is 24/7). I could cut her feed back to see if that helps. My mom said she was sticking with my other gleding, which is her foal. So that is good. I think it is going to be an adjustment for us all. We are going to try the bell on the fence thing. My other gelding is has a cowbell on but he is a turd and picks on her. They may have to be separated. |
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Regular
Posts: 57
| Like The pea gravel I read years ago about someone with a blind horse and they put telephone poles around the pasture about 3-5 feet from the fence. When the horse clipped the poles she stop and turn around. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | I really like the idea poles or pea gravel! I am getting a friend to let me borrow some panels until she get more confident. I think I am getting some where with this! :)
Edited by barrelracincrazy 2016-10-17 3:44 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | Does anyone have a cheaper suggestion for a "barrier"? I have a huge vet bill to pay so my budget is a shot right now. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 407
| I had a blind horse for about 6 years. I put a fly mask on them all the time that way they wouldn't get stuff in their eyes and it would block the electric shock on the fence. She also had a buddy horse that would lead her around. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 600
Location: Oklahoma & Texas | Alisha Viviano has a blind bbroodmare she may be able to help you out |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | You've gotten great advice from everyone. Definitely make her space smaller until she gets used to not being able to see. And if she and her son get along, tie a bell in his tail so she knows where he is and will follow him. After she seems adjusted some, expand her area. My 37 year old can see very little and we walked the whole pasture with him even tho he bad been in it for years before losing most of his sight. He's in about 25 or so acres with 4 other horses and it's all electric. Don't think for a second they can't sense that electricity because they can. He gets close to the fence at the barn and will back off a few feet and blow at it. It took time but he does great. I will say that he knows which horse (my bf's 16.3 Paint) to avoid. (If the Paint gets really tacky, Dan will go to my 16.3 sorrel and he puts the Paint in his place---it's like he's Dan's protector almost. . . )
Please give it time and don't give up on her yet. They're so adaptable and I bet time will help her ease into her new world. Prayers |
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 If it Ain't a Paint it Ain't!
Posts: 8519
Location: Mansfield, Tx | Maybe get her a goat instead of the gelding that is peaking on her |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | Little update.....her pen is now smaller. She is getting more and more confident everyday. Her son is really helping her. I even saw him nudging her toward the barn. I love that boy! Thank you all for the advice and encouragement. It really means a lot. I think she is going to be just fine. I owe her the world. She is the mare in my avatar. She has taught me so much.
We also do PHT therapy at night and that seems to help ALOT. Now if I can just save up for the blanket. I have the poll pack and fly mask but the fly mask freaks her out. I guess it makes it even harder for her to see.
Here are her papers just for fun. I like all the old school lines. Her son is by Ima Firefighter.
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/sea+splashers+mouse
Edited by barrelracincrazy 2016-10-20 2:04 PM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | barrelracincrazy - 2016-10-20 2:03 PM
Little update.....her pen is now smaller. Â She is getting more and more confident everyday. Â Her son is really helping her. I even saw him nudging her toward the barn. Â I love that boy! Â Thank you all for the advice and encouragement. Â It really means a lot. Â I think she is going to be just fine. Â I owe her the world. Â She is the mare in my avatar. Â She has taught me so much. Â
We also do PHT therapy at night and that seems to help ALOT. Â Now if I can just save up for the blanket. Â I have the poll pack and fly mask but the fly mask freaks her out. I guess it makes it even harder for her to see.Â
Here are her papers just for fun. Â I like all the old school lines. Â Her son is by Ima Firefighter.Â
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/sea+splashers+mouseÂ
Â
Awesome update ,, Yea I would leave the fly mask off, I would think it would be pretty hard for her to see threw it with her fading eye sight..  |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Southtxponygirl - 2016-10-20 2:30 PM barrelracincrazy - 2016-10-20 2:03 PM Little update.....her pen is now smaller. She is getting more and more confident everyday. Her son is really helping her. I even saw him nudging her toward the barn. I love that boy! Thank you all for the advice and encouragement. It really means a lot. I think she is going to be just fine. I owe her the world. She is the mare in my avatar. She has taught me so much.
We also do PHT therapy at night and that seems to help ALOT. Now if I can just save up for the blanket. I have the poll pack and fly mask but the fly mask freaks her out. I guess it makes it even harder for her to see.
Here are her papers just for fun. I like all the old school lines. Her son is by Ima Firefighter.
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/sea+splashers+mouse
Awesome update ,, Yea I would leave the fly mask off, I would think it would be pretty hard for her to see threw it with her fading eye sight..
And I wanted to add, get a bell for the gelding and but it on him so the mare can get used to hearing it and know to stay with it. Get a breakaway halter for him, so he wont get into trouble.. I love that you are getting her all set for life, Sending you a big hug for being a good mom to her  |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Southtxponygirl - 2016-10-20 2:52 PM
Southtxponygirl - 2016-10-20 2:30 PM barrelracincrazy - 2016-10-20 2:03 PM Little update.....her pen is now smaller. Â She is getting more and more confident everyday. Â Her son is really helping her. I even saw him nudging her toward the barn. Â I love that boy! Â Thank you all for the advice and encouragement. Â It really means a lot. Â I think she is going to be just fine. Â I owe her the world. Â She is the mare in my avatar. Â She has taught me so much. Â
We also do PHT therapy at night and that seems to help ALOT. Â Now if I can just save up for the blanket. Â I have the poll pack and fly mask but the fly mask freaks her out. I guess it makes it even harder for her to see.Â
Here are her papers just for fun. Â I like all the old school lines. Â Her son is by Ima Firefighter.Â
http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/sea+splashers+mouseÂ
 Awesome update ,, Yea I would leave the fly mask off, I would think it would be pretty hard for her to see threw it with her fading eye sight..
I agree with everything STPG said. You're a wonderful momma for working on her world to make it easier for her to live in. So may people would say "whatever" and be done with her. They give their hearts and soul to us----they deserve nothing less in return. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | Thank yall! Yall made me cry! I owe so much to her. I cant just give up on her. She took me to youth world mutiple times and she took me to AAY short go every year we went. She was a fire breathing dragon but she loved her job so much. She was a great barrel horse and a great momma. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | An update over the weekend. I started doing a lot of ground work her and working on voice ques. She caught on very quickly. She has figured out the fence line too! I walk her everyday around the fence line. So we have been doing alot of bonding. We are still having issues with going in and out of the stall but I am amazed with her adjustment. I am just praying for no more accidents. We already had an amazing bond before, but I know it has grown since this whole ordeal. |
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