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Beth Hicks
Member
Username: bthcks
Post Number: 13
Registered: 8-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, Sep 12, 2007 - 10:12 pm: |   |
I have just started working at a rescue facility for blind horses. They have a colt approx 1 yr old who was born blind and isolated in a round pen at about 3 months to 7 months of age. He is quite uncontrollable as no one has ever put any time with him (altho he does trot and canter a nice circle). I really like the natural horsemanship methods, but am wondering how to "adjust" them for this poor guy. He really needs to discover his "thinking side". Any suggestions out there? |
Melissa Boschwitz
Member
Username: amara
Post Number: 388
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, Sep 13, 2007 - 6:46 am: | |
whenn i was learning the style of natural horsemanship that i use we had a blind horse that was going thru rehab at the time....we learned that a blind horse has amazng perceptioin with its other senses, and learns to "feel" you in an incredibly sensitive way.... we pretty much did everything with him that we did with the sighted horses, but we made more noise, because he obviously couldnt see any movements... we didnt necvessarily go any faster or slower with him as we did wth any other horse, as we just treated every horse like an individual and moved on when that horse was ready...
good luck... personally i love the unhandled horses.. they're much more pure and the responses are very real... |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 19205
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 14, 2007 - 6:33 am: | |
Hello Beth,
Be sure to run a search on "Blind" using the discussion Search Engine and setting it to just look in the titles. We have many discussions on managing blind horses.
DrO |
Linda Lashley
Member
Username: lhenning
Post Number: 298
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 14, 2007 - 11:52 am: | |
Beth,
What an interesting situation. It sounds like quite a learning experience for you as well. I have no experience to add, but my gut tells me that tuning in to him would be where I would start. Take things slow and "feel" his moods, then respond the same way. Let him learn to trust you. I can only imagine once he gets to that point, he will be your best buddy. He must be lonely and yearning for that.
Please keep us posted on his progress.
Linda |
cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 782
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 14, 2007 - 5:27 pm: | |
Beth, Rolling Dog ranch is one of the best sites for working with blind horses also www.blindhorses.org ! It is an experience that is fasinating you will learn much. Cindy |
Tonya Bauer
Member
Username: pbauer
Post Number: 311
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 14, 2007 - 11:56 pm: | |
Dear Beth,
Isolation is not a healthy option...he needs a buddy...preferably very gentle. Is there a way to introduce him to another horse...a little at a time?
I would be uncontrollable, too...if I were blind and had never really experienced life's basic building blocks of love, understanding, tenderness, kindness...represented by... God, family and friends, etc. These all come together to form a solid foundation. Once this solid foundation is established...I would be able to learn and accept discipline...and become all that God created me to be.
This is something I always keep close by:
Subject: Life As It Should Be...
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.
From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.
If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is , so he can follow her.
As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places on our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.
Good friends are like this....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll try to remember to listen for yours.
Thank you, Beth, for helping this baby!!
My Very Best,
Tonya |
