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Barnyard Buddies:  my Filly had a blind filly  |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
 Posted - May 15 2011 : 8:16:47 PM
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need some advice. my old mare filly had a filly on friday, all seemed well but now the filly acts like it cant see. found a horse vet in the area that im going to call, but my dad says to put it down im trying to dicide if keeping a blind horse is a good idea, i know that it will be alot of work and money. has anyone had anything like this? any thoughts would be nice
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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doglady
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Tina
Howard
Ohio
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2011 : 8:26:00 PM
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My experience is with dogs for 34 years but I would gather as much information from the horse vet and older experienced horse people as possible and then make a logical action that is in the best interest of the animal. I wish you the best. Tina
Dogs never judge people, they only forgive!
www.kennelcreations.com |
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coloquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
Susan
Co
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2011 : 9:36:36 PM
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I have a horse that started out life blind. I am His second owner but whatever the problem was it was corrected enough that he does very well. He has spent the majority of his life as a pasture pal and he is really more like a huge dog than a horse.Aztec is now 26 years old and still doing great.He has a buddy that he follows everywhere. I would say talk to your vet first to see if anything can be done,If not then I would see if there is a reputable horse rescue in your area.Believe it or not there are lots of people (like me) that just love having a horse around and wouldnt mind if he had a disability.
Susan |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 06:33:04 AM
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I have heard that they do good, they learn and some even get better vision as the grow. I have no experience with a blind horse.
Good luck
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1507 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1507 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 06:34:59 AM
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I like Susan's idea. It would be really awesome if you could find a place that works with disabled people that could care for your horse properly and give it a meaningful life as a therapy animal to inspire others!
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Ingrid
True Blue Farmgirl
432 Posts
Ingrid
BC
Canada
432 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 07:39:10 AM
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Animals adapt better to disabilities than people so this horse will do the same. Follow your heart, gather information and decide what you feel is best. Maybe there is a place that will take your horse and work with it. Good luck, it's a tough decision. One question: What does the filly's mom think of this? Is she pushing her baby away or treating baby normally?
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 08:03:01 AM
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oh my oh my, i just posted about a half blind heifer. it is a dilema. my older ranchers here told me to go for it. they said she would get used to the left eye being blind. life would be more difficult. i have a hard time thinking they can be totally blind. but then i am a learn as i go farm. we do farm tours here for folks. they all want to see belle the rescue cow. any animal on our place with special needs has more than enough love. it allows me to help more animals. gives the animal a job and purpose. i accept their flaws and they mine. the rancher next to me (ron) said now this is believable because ron said it. he had a roping horse cow horse almost blind in one eye. did just fine. my thought is special needs animals take a special person. i like the hope in the above post that says,, they had an animals eyes get better. i so hope you will come back and post how it goes. i so hope her eyes heal and she sees. i pray for your tough decision to come to you. i am a sucker for all things broken. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 08:05:49 AM
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megan, i meant to say i also really like your farm blog. photos and ability to get around in it is easy. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 08:18:44 AM
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Megan- Is the foal exhibiting any other handicaps? Sometimes blind horses do fine- sometimes they can't adapt to their surroundings. They are a prey animal and not being able to see can be very scary. Also if she is having any other issues it is possible that she could be a "dummy foal".
I hope that it turns out that she is adapting well and is otherwise healthy. I think it has to be one of those on-the-spot decisions. If I thought the foal was acting like a normal foal then I would be encouraged. If she is bumping into things constantly, reacting with large amounts of fright or just standing still afraid to move- then I would be more likely to put her to sleep to spare her a fear filled life. Also if she is having a hard time getting up and down or having a hard time finding her mom to eat I would be concerned as well.
Again I hope all is well and she thrives!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 09:22:32 AM
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An older mare, foaling can have some of the same problems as a human mother giving birth at an older age, have a good vet give her a complete check-up and find out what other problems excist or will excist when the filly gets older. Do you keep your horses at a boading facility, or are they at a ranch with the filly would need to be able to protect herself from predators, I know of a few who have had horses with sight issues, some had no real big problems, and others became a danger to themselves and others...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 10:07:55 AM
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I had an older horse go blind and deaf grandually. It finally got so bad that he would pace on the end of his picket rope to be near the other horse. When we staked them out I had to make sure that he knew where the water trough was. I was always worried that he and Fauna would get tangled being picketed so close. They never did. I fnially had him put down because it was too expensive in AK to feed a horse that couldn't be used. I tried to ride him but he started stumbling badly. I learned to approach him from the front so that he wouldn't startle and kick me.
We were given a pony who was blind in one eye after we moved to OR and the children were old enough. You could not tell that he was blind unless you looked right at his eye. We even took him on steep sidehill trails. Never a misstep. He died in the pasture one day. I think he was close to 30 years old.
All this to say that I don't know how a blind foal would react. These horses had experience with sight and it went gradually, giving them time to adjust. If she can't find Mama, you would need to bottle feed if you want to keep her. She will always need to be "shown" her boundaries, ie the fence line, the buildings, any creek banks, the feeder, the water. You should definately have the vet look at her. She be able to distinguish light and dark. If you decide to keep her, you have a long row to hoe. Personally, after many, many tears, I would put her down. And then cry some more. I'm sorry that she wasn't healthy. You wait so long for the foal to arrive. And then this. I'm sorry.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 1:33:17 PM
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she seems to be fine, going to take her to the vets on friday he thought that it might be an infection,or a blood sloght behind the eye. hoping for answers. if she is blind and looks to be fine otherwise i am going to try to keep her, it all depends, I named her opal, and filly is doing great with her. filly really looks out for her all the time. opal hasnt ran into anything yet so im hoping that shell do ok
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - May 16 2011 : 1:55:19 PM
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Take your time and gather all the information you can both from the Vet and also others then listen to your heart. I had a goat girl born blind and most said to put her down but I just could not - trust me I have with other problems that where worse. The Vet held no hope but within three months it cleared and now she has perfect vision. This year a new mother goat jumped a gate in her kidding jug and broke her femur in half. The Vet said no way this could heal and it would be kinder to put her down. With herbs, a handmade splint out of four paint stir sticks and duck tape. It was a ton of work making new ones, giving her physical theraphy each day, getting bit, her screaming at me each time I went to the pen but I wanted at least to try for her, her baby and for my own heart. Last week she stepped and walked on that leg all by itself without splint, limp and such.
A True Blessings so please do not give up - Miracles happen and we are here to support you in whatever you decide. You can read about Ollivia on my blog if you wish
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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Sweet_Tea
True Blue Farmgirl
194 Posts
Tara
Newberry
SC
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2011 : 05:58:16 AM
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We have a horse that is blind in one eye.. and she's fine..... But both, I have no experience with. I'm with most of the other girls. Gather all the information you can, and talk to your vet.
I don't understand how men say "just put it down". I can't do things like that..
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2011 : 07:37:39 AM
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Hi Megan, I can understand your worry for your new little filly. There is an amazing rescue that specialize in rescuing blind horses in NH. Perhaps they can offer some advice and support. They are amazing folks and their ranch is a wonderful place. Best of Luck!
http://www.rollingdogfarm.org/
Margaret
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Henry David Thoreau
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2011 : 6:40:03 PM
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we took opal to the vet today! the vet says that she is fine, she has a condition that will go away and you will never notice. He said that when foaling the placenta might have started to come off early or that the filly was in the birth canal to long with out oxygen, and that may have caused her to have this problem. He said that it was rare in horses and more common in cattle. opal will need to be watched to make sure that her senses become normal....
im so happy to hear that shell be fine!!!
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2011 : 8:00:54 PM
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yipee yipee, what a fine thing to hear tonight. so happy for you and opal. happy days seeing everything God has made for opal. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 20 2011 : 8:09:26 PM
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Megan, that is great news! I am sure you have been very relieved to hear that.
kris
Happiness is simple. |
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MEWolf
True Blue Farmgirl
358 Posts
Margaret
Byers
Colorado
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2011 : 7:10:13 PM
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Megan that is great news!!! I hope she will recover ASAP!!!
Margaret
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Henry David Thoreau
Farmgirl #3020
www.grey-wolf-farm.com |
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Barnyard Buddies: my Filly had a blind filly |
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my Filly had a blind filly
