There Is Always Light

Well along with the exciting news about Misty's pregnancy we have had some sad news as well. Very sad news. Cricket (the paint) has only 1 eye. The other eye was removed a long time ago. Well the one eye she still has was leaking a lot and she kept it closed a lot so I had the very look at it and she has moon blindness. She is going blind in the one eye that she does have. We were very shocked by this information and very upset. Right now I am putting gel in it 4 times per day....moon blindness is kind of like a recurring infection and each time the infection comes back it damages the eye more, until eventually the horse loses the sight in the eye. Moon blindness also makes the eye sensitive to light. Normally with a horse who has another eye, you would cover the eye when there was an attack to keep the light out, but since she only has one eye that is not an option. Eventually she will have to live with just one other companion horse (who would be wearing a bell..so she can always hear where the other horse is) in a smaller paddock so that she is always aware of her surroundings, once she can no longer see.

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Then we learned that Misty has Navicular disease, which is another degenerative disease (like Moon blindness) but Navicular affects the feet. The horse foot has a Navicular bone and and Navicular Bursa which acts like a cusion for the Navicular bone to glide over the Cannon bone. With Navicular disease either the Navicular Bursa shifts or breaks down or their is a crack in the actual Navicualr bone, either way the horse is in a lot of pain and can no longer be ridden and in some cases can hardly walk and must be put to sleep. Misty is sore at times, and is now retired from riding. She gets along pretty well out in the field and with special shoes. She is sore when ridden and thus is retired. She is generally not lame at pasture and has joined the ranks of broodmare. She will become Crickets companion because neither of them eventually will be able to be ridden and they are both gentle, and as a bonus they seem to be getting along well :)

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Right now only Misty has been retired from riding, Cricket is still very rideable and will be ridden until her sight (or age) prevents it. We are hoping with diligent care we can keep her sight for 4 -5 more years at least.

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My girls have both been dealt hard blows but I will do everything in my power to make sure they live out thier lives healthy, happy and pain free. They will be cared for with compassion, dignity and respect and they are truly loved, and I know they both know they are loved and love us back.

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The light in this is the fact that Misty is expecting a little one next summer. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.