would you buy a horse with a cataract in one eye?

[sgcoolchick]

I have been offered a 5 year old mare with excellent bloodlines but she has been veted and has a cataract in her right eye, you can not tell to look at her but it means she sees shadows and light rather then objects, she does not seem to have trouble and copes very well, i would like to go on to do dressage with her my only concern is that i may have trouble selling her on in the future, she is however a very well bred coloured warmblood so could be used as a broodmare, what do you think ?

[Mimi + Me]

I don't know, might it make her more prone to spookiness? Can they not remove cataracts, I'm sure it's fairly treatable with other species i.e. humans!

[cinammontoast]

I've seen cataracts removed from owls, so doable on horses! I would get an estimate from the vet and take it off the asking price.

[LauraGeeGee]

I know someone who's horse had to have an eye removed due to a tumour. They used laser treatment first but it didn't work.

The mare was only 4 and not yet backed.

Since then she has been absolutely fine with just one eye. She was backed ok, no problems at all and is fine with traffic, not at all spooky. In fact she is one chilled out mare!

Vetinary opinion was that she was probably unable to see with that eye for a long time before it became apparent.

I know it's not the same as a cataract but thought it might help to share this story with you.

[Claire1605]

There was a horse at my old RS who was blind in one eye.

Did not affect her at all.

[lobeliaoverhill]

I don't know, might it make her more prone to spookiness?

Ditto that

I've seen cataracts removed from owls, so doable on horses! I would get an estimate from the vet and take it off the asking price.

and that!

[Mary Poppins]

From a black and white view - no i wouldn't The horse is at risk from becoming blind and if you are not prepared to cope with that I wouldn't take the horse.

[diplomaticandtactful]

when we bought Molly she had an issue on one eye, she was 6yo at the time, thought it might/might not be moon blindness (uveitis) in the end she gradually went blind in that eye. it was her off side one, and she got worse being ridden in traffic, and it was only afterwards i realised that it was because she couldn't see at all on that side. she doesn't show any signs of it, but clearly that was the issue.

otherwise she copes perfectly. your only issue is if they lose the sight of the good eye, you just have to make a decision based on what would you do with a blind horse?

[Kc Mac]

I'm not sure if i would or not. If you are really interested in her then speak to the vet about options and prices. I'm sure you have done some researh but here is a link with a brief insight

http://www.rowevetgroup.com/news/equinecateracts.htm

I have worked with a horse with only one eye who was sharp to ride but perfectly fine and usedin a riding school, and also a horse who had a slight blindness (just a fraction in one eye) which made him too spooky for polo but was fine jumping and on the flat.

The only thing that i will point out is you are concerned about being able to sell her on - for that reason alone i would be inclined to say don't buy her!

Without meaning to rude when you find a horse you contemplate buying/loaning/taking on the last thing to think about is selling it on! Also just because she is well bred does not mean she is conformationally sound and worthy of being a broodmare, and the fact she has a cateract I would NOT breed from her ;)

Good luck :)

[greymare]

I probably would, but then again I am a big softy and any horses we buy arent bought for work as such but for 'pets' lol

Jen
x

[starsemple]

My boy has one in one of his eyes and he does BSJA up to fox and thats because of me not him.

He is not spooky at all.

It doesn't bother me or my vet or him. If you are thinking of re selling already then buy. Thats my advice.