Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Geoffrey Pannell on March 7, 2009 at 4:32pm

Hi Corrie , I wouldn't be wasting any time getting a top equine vet to look at him. He might be developing cataracts. How old is the horse?

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Permalink Reply by Corrie Dunn on March 7, 2009 at 4:53pm

He is 20-21 years old, but I did the kleenex thing on each side of his head, even just moved my hands on each side so as only one eye can see what I am doing and he seems to see the movement just fine. His don't seem to have that cloudy look like most cateracts do, so I am not sure. Thank-you for your advise, it is greatly appreciated. Corrie.

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Permalink Reply by A_Sassy_Temptation on March 8, 2009 at 11:49am

definatly get a vet out to check for blindness..the Kleenex thing may have got that reaction becasue he trusts you..senses no problem ect ect. If he is not blind I will give you some tips from what I have experienced with my older mare..

make sure there is alot of bonding and joining work (so if he lunges or you have a round pen do alot of that work, I went and got lessons from a lady that based most of her methods on Chris Irwin) you HAVE TO MAKE SURE HE TRUSTS YOU (and you trust him)for this to work.

Once you got the trust start walking him (ground work) over and under, beside ect ect scarey things..if he gets scared make him face it until he calms down..give a reward (whether its a treat, a scratch, or simply walking away CASUALLY from the scarey thing if he bolts to get away when you start to walk away try again) I prefer a scratch or walking away as a reward because then he isn't paying attention to where the treats come from..


Its going to take awhile and then once he gets calm enough with the ground work, then you can get on his back and do the same thing.. make him face the scarey thing until he relaxes (let him sniff, encourage him (if its safe) to look, and touch the object), you need to be calm aswell. once the object isn't scarey any more reward him and carry on with what you are doing whether its trail riding or in the arena.


Eventually what he will learn from this (hopefully) is that if somthing is scarey he should look at it, find out its not scarey and carry on. I mean you are always going to get the odd spook because lets face it even as a "predator" type species we still get spooked..but when he gets into a mood jus turn him make him look at it..carry on..

Sorry its so long..

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Permalink Reply by Jen B on March 8, 2009 at 10:31pm

Is it possible he is just hyper and over-reacting? I know my guys go a bit wild over the winter as I don't ride them much, or at all, and they are more restricted because of the weather. I agree with others about ruling out a physical problem.

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Permalink Reply by Corrie Dunn on March 8, 2009 at 10:43pm

Yes I thought of that too, cause this winter with all our warm and cold weather mix it is just to slippery to ride, so I have only been out once this winter, very disappointing. Thanks for your reply.

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca Franklin on March 9, 2009 at 4:48pm

I would be getting him checked for anything physically wrong with him. Providing there is nothing wrong with him. I would start from scratch with him. Act like he is unbroken. Rub things over him, make noises around him etc. Do some lunging and generally get to know each other again. Make sure someone is with you for safety.

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Permalink Reply by Corrie Dunn on March 9, 2009 at 5:48pm

thank-you for your comment, I am going to get him checked. I am going to start ground work with him as soon as it gets a little warmer and no wind. He loves his rub down and his grooming and isn't gittery then, but it seems the unknown noise to him puts him in fright flight, so I feel very unsafe around him just incase a noise frightens him, then I could be under him in a heart beat. Thanks again, will let you know what happens

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