My big goofball horse.... sigh....

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

…He’s managed to hurt his right eye – in his stall. Ah, Ben – such a talented fellow he is.

I got a call earlier this evening from another boarder, alerting me to Ben’s swollen-shut eye. I got down to the barn and met the vet, Annemarie, a short time later. An earlier flow of exudate had dried on Ben’s face under the eye, which was definitely nasty-looking and puffed up about golf-ball-sized. Annemarie gave him a sedative and some Banamine for pain, and did her examination. Alas, it revealed a couple of small abrasions on the cornea, as well as a squeezed-tight-shut pupil.

So, now what? Ben got atropine (to open the pupil) and gentamicin ointment administered. He’s to have a week’s worth of eye treatments and be rechecked, as well as several days more of Banamine. He’s also got to have his injured eye totally sheltered from any light so long as the atropine keeps the pupil dilated, which could be till next Monday.

Fortunately I’d been able to dig out a fly mask at home to take to the barn. On Annemarie’s instructions I covered with duct tape the entire right side, inside and out, to block all light, and left the poor fellow in it so that the morning light through his window wouldn’t ravage his expanded pupil. Also called the barn manager and went over the prescribed treatment regimen.

So poor Ben will spend tomorrow in his stall, getting adjusted to having only one eye in play. On following days he’ll have an hour or two of early-morning turnout in a small shady paddock, by himself instead of with his usual herd (can’t have him playing his favorite pastime of halter tag right now). The barn manager and I will each be giving him eye treatments – I do hope the big goofball will allow me to get the ointment in there without needing a stepladder.

Oh, and of course, with a couple of utterly gorgeous days coming up, I can’t ride him. Well, the vet said I could if he was accepting of his condition but I’d rather not take the chance. Instead I’ll be hand-walking him in the indoor ring – such fun, eh?

Sigh…

[sings lugubriously]
You buy 16 hands, whaddaya get?
Another vet visit and deeper in debt…

2

Sorry for your bad luck, ETF. I hate it when a horse gets hurt! It’s bad enough with a dog, but the damn horses are so big and strong that if they don’t want to cooperate it’s just tough stuff. Hopefully, he’ll be a good boy.

Right now I’ve got one with a small cancer on his eyelid that will have to be removed. Joy!

Looks like I’m running a geriatric home for horses. Two mares 23 and 22, and the youngster is an 18 year old gelding. They’re all still good for a couple of hours riding a week. Hope to squeeze a few more years out of them.

Good luck with that eye!

3

Hope your boy gets well quickly!

4

Thanks for the good wishes – when I go to put that ointment in Ben’s eye, I may need all the positive vibes I can get.

John, good on you that you keep your old girls healthy and happy. I really hate it when people use 'em up and toss 'em aside.

5

I’m really happy it’s not worse news than this, but still sad the horse is not well.

Hope he’s better soon.

6

ETF - My first horse was diagnosed with glaucoma in one eye. She had to have drops and salve every day at first, then later just the drops. Even though she lost the sight in that eye, she was still fine for riding. A little easier spooked if things came at her from that side, but she was a steady old Warmblood girl.

StG

7

Sometimes I think horses can manage to injure themselves even when standing completely still! Here’s hoping Ben’s eye is soon completely healed.

8

What is Halter Tag?

9

Halter tag is wicked fun! Two horses face each other and lunge at each other’s halter, trying to grab a piece of it in their teeth. When they get hold they tug and yank.

Thus

Closeup

Going for a grip

Turnabout is fair play

They think it’s a hoot

10

First update: I just called and talked to the barn manager. She said he was a perfect gentleman about having his eye meds put in and that he’s doing fine. I’ll be going to the barn to visit, feed him treats, and administer the next dose in a little while.

11

Yayness! Keep us up to date on how he’s doing.

12

Another update, from yesterday afternoon: Much better. Swelling’s down to almost normal, no sign of discomfort or infection in the eye, and he’s being a complete gentleman about having the ointment put in it.

That was what I reported to Ben’s fan club via email yesterday after getting back from the barn. I went back in early evening for another round of eye ointment and more Banamine, and he was looking great. You’d have to look hard to spot the remaining puffiness under the eye.

13

Halter tag looks fun! My wee pony (well, 14.3 hands but he had the heart of a pony) used to play Halter Be Gone which involved finding a sturdy bit of fencing and rubbing his ears against it until his halter flicked off. Which then led me to play Hunt the Halter around the paddock perimeter…hmph!