March riding & training thread

[ghostrider]

Thought I'd start this months thread with our ride today and the difference in Buddy's confidence at riding.

We're not sure how much vision loss he has, if any but we do know he still sees out that eye. One thing I noticed today is that he tended to turn his head around to look directly at things on his right side and once he even spooked when Diesel came up out of a leafy ditch even though he knew he was there. Also on his right side. Just a small start but he wouldn't have done that a few months ago.

But it still could have been that we have not ridden much over winter and then his medical trouble. He's lost some weight and muscle with the lack of riding too. I swear he's "flabby!" lol We've ridden twice since Dec when we thought it was the fungal infection.

There were two young horses at Henry's and they were goofing around and running up to the fence then running off and back...Buddy would get high headed and try and get his butt under him to take off too. Nothing too bad but he hasn't done that in a long long long time. I wonder if it's because he doesn't trust his sight or lack of it?

He seems to ride more confidently when I am more take control then when I let him go down the road at his own pleasure so maybe I will need to be more an offensive rider with him?

HS, which horse has the moon blindness? have you noticed a difference in riding since she got it?

[horsespoiler]

Winnie (DH's) is the one that has the eye problem but it isn't really moon blindness. She had a corneal scratch at least 13 years ago. The goop from that caused a block in her tear duct in that eye that had to be cleared out with irrigation. She then had drops and ointment for a couple of weeks. She has what is basically a cataract on part of that eye. It has been so long since it happened that I can't remember a difference. She was very green as far as training under saddle went when we got her although she had a lot of handling from being a broodmare. She didn't neck rein or understand about backing up much and just needed time under saddle so I can't really say if she changed much as far as confidence goes as it has improved so much. She rarely spooks and goes out alone very willingly.

[ghostrider]

I assume he'll learn to adjust to what loss he has, if any. I need to lunge him a couple days a week to get some of that muscle back and now that spring has started here we should be able to work through whatever difference he has. I'm so grateful for nice weather I hope it stays.