Blind mare...

[mikec]

Came across a situation last week that got me to thinking so thought I'd ask what might be stupid questions.
A friend of mine has a mare, about to foal, which is completely blind. This mare has had several foals in the past but this is the first one since becoming blind.
I don't know too much about this type of situation other than actually breeding the mare isn't a problem but, for my own information, what special care is needed after delivery for both mare & foal ? Can they be turned out ? that kind of stuff...thanks !

[GrapDragon]

ive seen plent of blind horses and blind broodmares in my life. and you quickly learn that theres no telling horse its handicapped. most of the time they get by just fine with only the fencing is really footing put to consideration. obviously cant have any objects in pasture or paddock that require major negotiation and the fence must be solid, it helps to to things that flap in the wind on the fence line and chance the texture of the footing near the fence line to let the horse know where it is. but really they get along just fine. there is the idea of "put a bell on the foal". but just like your mom had "eyes in the back of her head" and knew your every move that mare will hear her foals every move without the aid of a bell. there have been plenty of successful blind broodmares. as long as the fence and footing is accomidating and feeding is *fair* being a broodmare is one job a blind horse can do with pretty good job security. obvioulsy taking to note that the blindness not be genetic.

[BJ]

Came across a situation last week that got me to thinking so thought I'd ask what might be stupid questions.
A friend of mine has a mare, about to foal, which is completely blind. This mare has had several foals in the past but this is the first one since becoming blind.
I don't know too much about this type of situation other than actually breeding the mare isn't a problem but, for my own information, what special care is needed after delivery for both mare & foal ? Can they be turned out ? that kind of stuff...thanks !

Have no experience with this either, but some thoughts come to mind...

I would certainly think that IF the mare is used to being turned out since she has been blind, that having her be somewhere she is used to would be comforting.

Also, others have mentioned (in other threads) having a bell put on the sighted companions (in this case, on the foal) so the blind mare can know where the baby is at all times, including when it is close by, so she doesn't accidentally hurt it, by being frightened or startled. I'd do the bell thing in the stall even, to get the mare used to it.

The mare's other senses (hearing, smell & vibrations) might be much increased with the blindness, but even sighted mares step on their babies and tragic things happen in the stalls too. I would also think, depending on the mare's temperament in allowing humans close by, after delivering, that comforting the mare with voice and touch and helping her to get to know the foal and surroundings, if she seems disoriented, would be helpful.

[madelyn]

ive seen plent of blind horses and blind broodmares in my life. and you quickly learn that theres no telling horse its handicapped. most of the time they get by just fine with only the fencing is really footing put to consideration. obviously cant have any objects in pasture or paddock that require major negotiation and the fence must be solid, it helps to to things that flap in the wind on the fence line and chance the texture of the footing near the fence line to let the horse know where it is..

What on earth does that mean? What does "fencing is really footing put to consideration"? And "to to things that flap"?

[mikec]

Yeah BJ those are good points. We've not been at this particular barn long, we arrived late last summer, and truthfully I never noticed this particular mare was even blind until this past weekend. She's out with another mare whom she follows around faithfully but, of course, both are pregnant so will be separated at lest for a short while. The owner has never faced this situation before either in all his years of breeding and in speaking with him on Sunday it really peaked my curiousity. I had read on another board that the mare & foal couldn't be turned out which made absolutely no sense to me so I'm just trying to gather info and I'll be watching closely to see how this all plays out. I'll mention the bell to the owner...thanks !
I think I got ya GrapDragon...thank you as well.

[BJ]

Yeah BJ those are good points. We've not been at this particular barn long, we arrived late last summer, and truthfully I never noticed this particular mare was even blind until this past weekend. She's out with another mare whom she follows around faithfully but, of course, both are pregnant so will be separated at lest for a short while. The owner has never faced this situation before either in all his years of breeding and in speaking with him on Sunday it really peaked my curiousity. I had read on another board that the mare & foal couldn't be turned out which made absolutely no sense to me so I'm just trying to gather info and I'll be watching closely to see how this all plays out. I'll mention the bell to the owner...thanks !
I think I got ya GrapDragon...thank you as well.

Oh... Makes me so sad to think of her being separated from her "seeing-eye friend" Pasture pals, when separated under normal conditions, can get highly distraught...I can't imagine how hard it will be for her, not being able to see and hearing her friend off in the distance.

I would strongly suggest they start handling her and/or introduce a goat or something to give her "familiar" surroundings BEFORE she has to be separated from her only friend.

Surely the local Vets have had experience with this???? Keep us posted Mike.

[GrapDragon]

ive seen plent of blind horses and blind broodmares in my life. and you quickly learn that theres no telling horse its handicapped. most of the time they get by just fine with only the fencing is really footing put to consideration. obviously cant have any objects in pasture or paddock that require major negotiation and the fence must be solid, it helps to to things that flap in the wind on the fence line and chance the texture of the footing near the fence line to let the horse know where it is..

What on earth does that mean? What does "fencing is really footing put to consideration"? And "to to things that flap"?

if you change the texture of the foot starting several feel out from the fence line the mare will feel the difference when she steps on it and quickly come to learn that the change in footing means the fence is near. tearing pieces of cloth and trying them on the fence so that it will "flap" (as in make a noise) will also tell the mare where the fence line is. ive done this at a barn i managed several years back, we had three blind horses. one gelding, two mares. one of the mares was a career broodmare. the large paddock was grass so we put sand footing along the fence line upto ten feet out from the fence on the inside. when we moved "The Three Blind Mice" as well called them into their new paddock the arrangements and considerations made really made the transition much easier for them.

i also took care of a blind appy who might as well have been a rhino. he had a mini horse companion that he lived with in his stall and private paddock. despite his brutish exsistance of trying to push over the fence on a regulare basis (had to switch to pipe corral) and willfully banging into walls and door he was suprising gentle and considerate of his small friend. he never once hurt or accidently stepped on her. he always seemed to know right where she was despite not being able to see her.

also i had to many thoughts going at once and my fingers didnt keep up so i managed to leave out several comas and periods resulting in utter confusion, heh. its been a long day.

*note to self* reread before posting, also dont forget to take ADD meds.

[Laurierace]

My mare delivered a foal with no eyes a few years ago. After contacting every expert I could think of to make sure it wasn't likely to happen again we rebred her. She lived in a band of mares in a huge field year round. They were brought in at night for observation close to their foaling date, but other than that, they lived outside with run ins for shelter.
Some time between having the foal with no eyes and close to foaling time for the next one she went blind herself and no one even noticed. Interestingly enough, her best buddy in the field also went blind sometime around the same time. The vet says it was most likely due to lepto. They were pretty much attached at the hip. This really was a case of the blind leading the blind I guess, but it obviously worked for them.
The point I am trying to make is as long as she is getting along fine as is, don't change anything. I like the idea of the bell and have known people who have used it successfully, but my guess is they would get along just fine in familiar surroundings without one.
Best of luck to all involved.

[amanda1]

GrapDragon,

The suggestion about changing the footing several feet out from the fence line was one of the smartest things I have heard in a long time!!!

Good for you!!!

[mikec]

All very sensible recommendations and when you take a breath and think about it, I guess, all also so obvious as to be easily overlooked. I'll be sure to mention everything to the owner ASAP as this particular mare is due to foal this week I understand. Thanks again & I'll keep you informed !

[kimberley mine]

I don't suppose the barn owner has a portable paddock or round pen that can be set up in or near the pasture with her barn buddy? The two mares can still be close, albeit across a fence line. The sighted mare would be able to see her buddy, and the blind mare would be able to hear the other, and both could touch across the fence. Since the mare and foal would be in the round pen, they would be safe from other horses. (Don't try this with electric on a really young foal!!!)

Also, I presume the two mares are stalled next to one another? If one is in the barn on stall rest, can they not be brought in together? That seems like a quite simple answer to temporary separation anxiety.

[mikec]

He's got that part under control pretty well as he's put the mare's in adjoining stalls. The biggest concern I think was the ability of the mare to locate her foal and I've passed along all the suggestions thus far. Love this board...the concern & assistance is fabulous !!!

[mini's mom]

hi

good idea about the bell on the foal. I had a horse that went blind due to an accident. In order to move him at night or late in the day I had to use a flashlight pointed at the ground. I held it just near his eye pointed on the ground. He would follow the shadow.

Hope that is helpful also but the bell is a wonderful idea

susan

[summerhorse]

Sometimes they might step on the foal accidently so for the first week or two it might be wise to build a small area in the stall for the foal to sleep in and have someone in there watching them the whole time. they could take the foal out to nurse and the rest of the time the mare could hang her head over the side (the foal should be able to reach over too but not jump over or climb out). After the first week or so there shouldn't be any reason the buddy shouldn't be turned out with the mare and foal (of course they should be watched to be sure the buddy isn't dangerous to the foal but if she (he?) is stalled next to them it should be OK. He could also put something strong smelling on the foal in case the mare is not real careful. And of couse the bell.

[MareMc56]

Great website I'll pass along http://blindhorses.org
...stumbled upon this when researching...I have a one eyed racer and just wanted some info and found this website.[/url]