Showing a blind horse, opinions needed...

[rvcsherman]

What would you do? We have not showed our little mare in 11 yrs but have just started preping her for a local youth fun day show. SHE LOOKS AWESOME!!! :new_shocked: 11yrs ago she was an AMHA National top 10 Sr mare, AMHA National high point res champ Sr mare, AMHA Regional champion Sr mare, NEMHS high point Sr mare, etc. At 16yrs old I think she looks better then she ever did when I was showing her! Only problem is she lost one eye in a pasture accident several years ago. Will her missing eye really hurt her in a real AMHA show? I would just love to bring her back out on the show curcuit next year!!!

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[MiLo Minis]

I am not sure of the rules for AMHA as I don't show there but I know that in the AMHR complete loss of sight in either eye is cause for disqualification. As a performance horse I would think it would also have an effect as in jumping, obstacles or driving it would cause difficulty for the horse. Perhaps it might be best just to love her as is and look for another show horse.

 

[Fred]

It depends on the horse. My gelding [full size] went blind in one eye and he still jumped and did trail with no problem. I also rode him after he went totally blind. I don't know about AMHA but if the horse is fine I would go for it. I also know of a dressage horse that was totally blind and was competed on a regular basis.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Not sure how much it helps but we had a horse with one eye in our show barn (a large hunter) and he did all the eq classes and jumped wonderfully and she placed well with him however we didnt show him in hunter (which is judged on the horse not the rider)

 

[rabbitsfizz]

You cannot show halter in AMHA with a horse blind in one or both eyes- I am not certain about performance classes but if that is acceptable then there is no reason why her performance should be affected.

 

[Kawgirl]

I don't know about AMHA rules, but my gelding is blind in one eye and he is a great driving horse! I have shown him in local shows and fairs and he has won obstacle driving classes. A lot has to do with how well trained the horse is and how much trust it has in it's rider or driver.

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[MiLo Minis]

I have an older horse here that is completely blind in one eye and has some vision in the other. He gets around very well but I would not ask him to do obstacle or jumping unless he had previously been doing obstacle and jumping which it appears this mare hasn't. All her previous awards were for halter. In obstacle they are asked to sidepass over poles, etc. which this horse wouldn't even be able to see. I personally wouldn't consider it fair to ask a blind horse to do those kind of things when it isn't really necessary. JMHO

 

[Kim]

You cannot show halter in AMHA with a horse blind in one or both eyes- I am not certain about performance classes but if that is acceptable then there is no reason why her performance should be affected.

Actually, you can show a horse with only one eye in AMHA halter - there is nothing in the rule book about it. I have a gelding that lost an eye years ago due to a melting corneal ulcer and I still show him - only in driving and obstacle, though, as he wasn't even a halter horse in the first place! I think that a lot of judges would probably knock you down in a halter class for a missing eye, but if you want to do it, go for it - it is perfectly legal, and I'm sure your horse will be just fine.

 

[minih]

For me personally I would not try to show a completely blind horse. If it had eyesight in one eye, that is totally different. A completely blind animal loves routine and every thing in the same place. You take them to a show--you mess up every thing that is comfortable to them. For me it would not be worth upsetting them.

 

[Kawgirl]

I have an older horse here that is completely blind in one eye and has some vision in the other. He gets around very well but I would not ask him to do obstacle or jumping unless he had previously been doing obstacle and jumping which it appears this mare hasn't. All her previous awards were for halter. In obstacle they are asked to sidepass over poles, etc. which this horse wouldn't even be able to see. I personally wouldn't consider it fair to ask a blind horse to do those kind of things when it isn't really necessary. JMHO

My gelding also does halter obstacles and was not trained until after he lost vision in one eye. He understands that the command to sidepass applies to both sides. He loves obstacles, both driving & halter! It's all about communication & trust!

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[Dream]

I don't see any problem with a blind horse doing obstacles. They don't have to be able to see the obstacles if they trust you and just step sideways, back and turn when you give them voice commands.