moon blindness

[LeAnn]

Need advice on moon blindness. I found a paint mare that would work perfectly for a family but she has moon blindness. Still sees very well. If you were purchasing a horse and found out it had moon blindness would you buy or pass on it. The horse would be used as a trail/4H show horse. If they horse was perfect any ever other way except this would that make a difference.

Thanx in advance and welcome all replies.

[Pasogirlz]

Ask SandyMM about her Bronce. He is completely blind from Moonblindness, but she rides him everywhere and they have a beautiful bond and trust for each other. He raced in the Largo Race at Nats this year and has also ridden in the Lost Posse Endurance Ride. 8-)

[appyday]

No I would NOT>.

[Jasfino]

LeAnn you said she still sees very well. How old is the horse? Are both eyes actively affected by the moonblindness or just one? I read where sometimes a horse may loose sight in one eye and the other not be affected adversely for many yrs.

We have a horse that suffers from this.. and she could see some when we got her..but gradually lost her sight totally. She is doing very well just being retired to pasture so her quality of life isnt to the point to where we would have to have her put down because of her blindness.

If knowing about the moonblindness beforehand, after all we have went through with our horse.. I would say NO. Its very heartbreaking to watch them suffer with this. Now that we own her, we feel a huge responsibility to her and will have her till she dies.

[Terry Wallace]

I would pass on the horse too. go to www.blindhorses.org to read up on moonblindness...it usually gets worse & worse..

[Linda Y]

And sometimes it is very painful when they have an 'episode'. She would have to be a real good horse before I could take the chance.

[SandyMM]

Maybe... all other things being equal, I would go for a sound horse. Easier on the rider and usually easier on the horse - depending on what you are asking of it... HOWEVER........ I would _not_ automatically rule out a horse with moonblindness or even a blind horse from other causes.

It depends a _lot_ on what you are willing to do and be responsible for.

Moonblindness episodes can be painful and stress may aggravate or trigger episodes - although a 19 mile ride and the largo race heats and final did not trigger any with Bronce. On the contrary, he seemed to be very focused and enjoy them. We did not know ahead of time that Bronce had moonblindness - it doesn't appear to have any genetic connection. We are reasonably sure that he most likely got little or no professional care at the onset - which is probably why his progresses so quickly.

We are willing to take care of him for as long as he lives and has a quality of life - it may be a different quality, but he is an otherwise happy, healthy horse. I do think that it is important that the horse with sight problems gets to know and trust maybe only one rider. I have taught Bronce 3 basic commands that get us over, under, around, and through most obstacles we have come across on our trail rides. i wouldn't necessarily recommend having a blind horse unless you are fully committed to its care and understand that there are things which _you_ must be aware of 100% of the time or else you and your horse may both have unexpected 'episodes'...

I have to say though that riding a blind horse can be the ultimate experience in communications and trust!

[LeAnn]

Thanx for the advice everyone. Your feelings were my basic feelings as well. The mare is 14 and as far as anyone knows this was the first episode she has had but no one knows that for sure. Course they werent calling it moon blindness either but the owners made the mistake of telling me their vets name. And thats exactly what he called it. Bought on by stress from weaning her foal and over dosing her with vaccines. She would be for a teenage girl and her very timid mom dont think it would be wise for everyone involved for them to buy her.

Thanx again

[SandyMM]

Bought on by stress from weaning her foal and over dosing her with vaccines.
????? While stress may cause a flare-up or reoccurence, I've never heard of it causing an initial episode of uveitis.... And over-dosing with vaccines? Now if it was a _subsequent_ episode - quite possibly.... but first episode? Hmmmmm....

[LeAnn]

Im not sure the owner had the horse for very long so she truely may not have known about it before this.