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  • From: Karen Nesbitt <spanishequines@yahoo.com>
  • To: MSAR <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [MSAR] Subject: Re: Horse blind in one eye
  • Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 11:15:54 -0800 (PST)

Responding to:

Message: 5
Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:19:06 -0800
From: "Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Horse blind in one eye
To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <020401caa6c1$feffdb00$fcff9100$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"

The horse with 1 blind eye would need to demonstrate safe mobility
addressing various obstacles in the terrain common to the response area, and
pass other testing, just like any other MSAR mount.

- - - - - -
Jorene Downs
SAR & CERT
Mounted SAR
www.ceoates.com/msar 
KJ6JCD
 
--------->>>>>
 
I would agree that a blind horse, be it one eyed ornone,  would be ok to be used providing it does not propose a danger to others and its rider is fully capable of handling it.  Key words of that sentence is that the RIDER IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING IT.  And may I add, the team is aware of it.
 
One of my most valued mounts is a 30 year old mare.  She is sound and rideable.  She has issues with age, but that is to be expected and her eyesight I am sure is not as sharp as it was when she was younger.  Her other senses remain sharp.  The funny part about her aging, is not so much how she handles things,  but its how her pasture mates handle some things for her.
 
We have placed a bell on one of her best buddies to aid the old girl in knowing where her buddy is.  The herd has taken the post she once had as premeire gaurd.  She is one of those horses that does not go down without a fight if she is in jeoprody.  However her best buddy now has assumed that position of prime look out and the rest of the herd has their positions in the band.  The hiearchy in the herd has taken a grand change.
 
When I am on this old mare her, she takes things with a grain of salt.  I know what flaps her, she knows what flaps me.  But knowing she has old age on her back, we take care of each other.  I have to be her eyes more.  And I also am her extra ears as hers are mine. But that is part of the partnership of any riding.
 
Her pasturemates however worry and fret when she is not with them.  They seek her out as they have relied on her for so many years to take care of them and now its her turn.  I know I am going to have a problem with the bell ringer.  Next to my husband and I, she is going to be the biggest "mourner"  at rainbow bridge and when that old gal departs this world. My associates have advised me to be prepared to possibly have a wake for the old mare for the sake of the bell ringer so she understands she inparticular is gone when the time comes.  If you see how the bell ringer will fret when I take a ride and am gone, you will understand what may be our issues.  I can picture that  bell toting mare running a fence looking for her or possibly going through a fence going after her to search her out.
 
So there is a lesson to be learned in that.
 
As with ANY HORSE, we are dealing with a live animal that will react and no matter how trustworthy they are, or have been there is ALWAYS the risk of adversity and I dont care what some people may think on that oh its just an animal, they do have their bondings.
 
So with that in mind, that is what everyone needs to be aware of.  The bondings make for great partnerships, but the adversity that can come at anytime, that risk is something not to lose sight of. 
 
I recently had a 42 year old woman inquire about buying a horse.  She made a comment to me she wanted a "safe" horse.  Like dont we all.  She wanted a 5-6 year old.  I told her, you want 100% safe, ride a stick horse.   And while I appreciate people telling others their horses are safe, the bottom line is is that the risk is always there that come a time there may be an incident.  This is not to say that well trained horses are not safe, its just to say, things can happen.  Perhaps I should have said, make sure she tied her shoes too while on the stick horse.  Your ride is what you make it, your preparedness for a fall is what can save your bacon.  My other question to that lady was was at age 65, are you still going to be able to ride or take care of that 5 year old when it turns thirty?  Should you both live so long.  She said I sounded rather condencending.  I told her, I apologized for that, but I wanted her to understand the full scope of ownership and riding.  I like my people to go into horses with their eyes wide open.  When they do, they stick with them. 
        Karen
 
 
 



  • [MSAR] Subject: Re: Horse blind in one eye, Karen Nesbitt, 02/06/2010

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