Barrel racing a blind horse

Martha,
I bought a 6 yr/o APHA gelding April 03. When I bought the horse he had ALOT of problems , but I thought I had to have him. When first started working with (blue) He was running any where from a 20 to a 24 in barrels and 30s in poles. The owner before me was scared of him( he still thinks he is a stud ) ( sometimes). I have put alot of time in this horse and finally around Nov the 14 He ran his heart out and we had a 16 flat run. I was so HAPPY, with myself . I could tell that my hard work and worry had finally paid off.

Then the bad news came . Two weeks later I noticed his right eye watering. I called the vet, we did some test, and he belives that (blue) cant see very much if anything out of that eye. Blue runs to the Left. What do you think I should do? Do you think that I will be able to make a Winning horse out of him? Or should I try to start something else?

Thanks for hearing my problems. I am just so frustrated.

Thanks again,

Megan Mann

Dear Megan,
Hello and Merry Christmas,
If your horse is responding to the things that you are asking him to do, I would certainly keep working with him. If he has limited or no vision in one eye, then you will always have to be aware that you will have to be his “eye” when working on that particular side of him whether it be grooming him and caring for him from the ground or riding and competing on him. One of the most famous barrel horses of all time, Kristie Peterson’s Bozo – had some kind of a sight issue in his right eye. If you know his history, then you know that it didn’t stop Bozo or Kristie from becoming world champions both inside the arena and out of it too. As you said in your message, your hard work was finally paying off – so don’t throw your hands up and walk away from a horse that is willing to work for you and with you.

Martha Wright