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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 8:35:19 PM
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I know horses can go blind and I know the obv way to tell would be them walking into things etc. What about if its a gradual process?
Would there be any tell tale signs that maybe the eyesight isnt quite what it used to be?
I ask cos several times now Ive gone into the field to catch Velv (23yo) and shes got a hell of a fright. Today was the worst. She didnt notice me until I touched her shoulder. She squealed and lashed out (not at me). She thought it was a filly standing about 10m away minding her own business. Poor filly was so confused. Felt a bit guilty.
She had been standing snoozing, but I called out to her and walked up in her sightline. Her eyes were open. Other times, shes been grazing and again I call out and walk into her sightline and she still jumps out her skin. It seems to be happening more often.
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RUTHIE
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1238 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 9:17:44 PM
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| My advice to you is get your vet out to check her eyesight. Eyes can deteriate with age but you need to make sure nothing suspisous is happening. |
     
In Memory of Crystal Flash 2010-2012 |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 9:32:10 PM
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It is possible that her eyesight may not be as good as it once was, but could it be her hearing? Does she react when you call her name, does she flicker her ears as you approach? I found that with my old mare this was the case, and had to compensate by approaching in her eyeline & waving at her to catch her attention  I'd get her checked over just to put your mind at ease |
      
Claire & Sunny x
http://sunnyandclaire.blogspot.com/ |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 10:25:30 PM
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Ill get the vet to check next time shes out. They did check them when she got her flu/tet in jan and said they were fine then. She does have a blue shade over the lens on the left eye from when she scratched it about 6 years ago. Vet checked afterwards and said that he couldnt see any permanent damage other than the colouring and didnt think it affected her sight. I had approached her today from the right side.
I have also wondered about her hearing too. When I go into the field I sometimes have to wave and jump about to catch her attention, sometimes shel startle and other times not and just casually look up. Shel often see me coming and come walking towards me. Its more when shes preoccupied like eating when shel jump. Shes also naturally a very spooky horse and always have been so I cant use that as gauge to monitor it. Cant decide if the senses are going or if her mind and shes just in a world of her own. |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 11:03:19 PM
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| Not a horse but my little dog is loosing his hearing and his eyesight, and he behaves much as you describe your horse. When I call to him he ignores me (hmmmmm) but as I shout louder, he lifts his head in surprise; and looks round for me, so I have to wave my arms around so that he can see me, but what is so sad, is that if I walk by him and give stroke him as I pass, he jumps out of his skin; having watched him closely, I think its the hearing. If that helps |
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lulu
Gold Member
763 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2011 : 2:33:22 PM
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| I always felt that my old part bred had a problem she was 29 when pts and ridden regularly, her problem seemed to be coming either into or out of sunlight especially under trees. Always felt with hindsite that was the cause of her accident. |
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Fading eyesight??
