Blind horse still loves his work

By Justine Thompson

General news

12 April 2010 10:39

A totally blind horse has been confounding all who meet him by carrying on hacking and working despite his disability.

Herbie the 20-year-old Appaloosa lost the site in one eye nine years ago after spiking it on a corn stalk while grazing.

Then he lost the sight in his other eye two years ago due to a tumour.
But owner Lydia Gallichan still has complete confidence in her mount – and loves nothing better than a canter along the beach near his home in Jersey, according to the MailOnline.

“Sometimes I really do forget he is blind,” said Miss Gallichan, 27.

“I just want people to know that if a horse loses its sight it’s not the end. Herbie is still the same character, if not even more so.”

Miss Gallichan, who works in a bank, has owned Herbie since she was 11.
She says she has to take a little extra care to steer him round obstacles.

If he needs to climb uphill she says “up, up” so he knows to expect the change in gradient and going downhill she tells him ‘steady’ to make sure he doesn’t go too fast.

“His hearing is incredibly sensitive,” she said. “I can lead him in from the field and he will just follow my voice.”

Herbie's vet, Max Allan, said he believed that because the horse went blind slowly he had time to adjust to his disability.

“Horses are remarkably adept at coping. So long as they know where their food and water is, they will not worry about being blind.”