Would you buy a horse...

[greyiscute]

That had a fairly significant cloudy spot in one eye (old injury, not progressive), but apparently no blockage of vision (two different vet's opinions)?

Would you expect a lower price even if the horse's performance was not affected?

Thanks! Just trying to get a feel of people's opinions on this...

[Little Valkyrie]

I was given a horse with significant damage to his cornea, and it was the best decision of my life to keep him. He was never really spooky, just sometime he didn't like round objects, and I wondered if he had trouble judging them. Would jump absolutely everything. Took me from my D-3 to C-3 without a problem and hunted for many years, both in the field and as staff until breaking his coffin bone (he will be out next year hilltopping though!!). Waldo does have some blockage of sight and every once in a while we have to administer antibiotics if it gets weepy, but other than that, I say go ahead!

[Guyot]

I know an old advanced horse that lost an eye. He did compete advanced again but had some problems with multiple skinny combinations. They moved him back to intermediate and he was fine.

If you are looking to resell might be a factor to consider. I wouldn't buy one if I was looking to flip, but for myself then yes. good luck.

[TKR]

I don't think I would be too concerned if he has decent vision and it's not something that is progressive or a uveitis type condition. Horses are so adept at scratching their eyes on something as innocuous as a stalk of hay or a twig in their turnout. Sometimes it can leave a bit of a scar, but a vet could certainly say if it's likely to be a problem. If you've "vetted" many (which you probably have), you already know they are going to find "something"! It doesn't sound like it would really be a problem to me. Good luck!
PennyG
I'm in Alabama also!

[purplnurpl]

I broke a flippin FANTASTIC Old/TB with a cloudy spot in his eye.
He was little. like 15.1 but just an amazing mover and great little jumper.
He was dead broke and bombproof at age 4. Just a joy to be around, hop in your pocket little guy.

He was a sale horse and the owner ended up selling him for 3500 bucks which was a darn good deal for the buyer if you ask me.
Some idiot vet told the buyers that he wouldn't be able to jump...even though we had a million pics of him at his 1st XC schooling (which was also his 2nd) jumping all the BN stuff with room to spare.

A month later the new owners sent us pics of the little guy and his Grand Champ ribbion spread from his first hunter show.
: )

any little blip shaves dollars off of the asking price.

[quietann]

Just an idea -- if possible, try the horse over jumps that are new to him, in a new environment. One of my two regular rides is/was a partially blind gelding who is mostly fine over fences he already knows, but can get very looky and even refuse if he's confronted with something new and it's unusually colored, or has water, or etc. Luckily his "triggers" are pretty well known, but he has to be ridden pretty aggressively on a new course. And there are certain things he's just not reliable for at all, like jumping into water. Too bad as he's lovely and talented, but in his younger years, his owner found that X/C courses beyond Novice level were too likely to have things that trigger him.

[greyiscute]

Thanks for your opinions guys. The story is that I got a very cute mare in, sight un-seen (other than a crappy picture), a bit of a rescue, a few months ago, and I'm planning on selling her in the spring. She is wonderful (although much much greener than advertised), and if it wasn't for the fact that you can see a cloudy spot in her eye, you would never think it was there. I'm hoping to make her BN debut in February-ish and then put her on the market, and wasn't sure how I should approach the eye in terms of price. Of course I will be totally up front about it (although it really is a non-issue), but I just didn't know if I should automatically lower the price a bit, or just price her as what she is--a super cute, super quiet prospect.

[cllane1]

One of the horses at my barn has a cloudy left eye that he's had since birth...something about the way he was positioned in the womb pressed on the eye and left a mark. He can see fine and is an incredible eventer and all around great guy. If the vets are telling you there's no sight impairment, and you like her, I'd go for it!

[horsesarelikepotatochips]

I would be inclined to price her at the value you think she's worth and know that based on what a potential buyer's vet says, they may use it as a bargaining chip. But if you've had two vets say no problem, and you haven't noticed a problem, I don't know that I would automatically lower the price based on that.

[goodpony]

We sold a horse with a significant head injury affecting his left eye as well as leaving him with some facial nerve paralysis. He was the winner of YEH for Five Year Olds at Woodside Fall Horse Trials with I think a 79.? and is currently competing at Prelim....wonderful horse, wonderful owner/rider...neither the eye or paralysis were problematic for him....though she did have to give him time to grow :)

[greyiscute]

Thanks guys, I guess I won't worry about it in terms of pricing her. I was hoping that since I'll be showing that she can do her job just fine, no one would really care. I know I wouldn't, but it is nice to hear other's opinions.

Thanks!

[Carol Ames]

check with ophthalmologist; Morven park had a horse, n excellent jumper:yes:, with only one eye; I would not have wanted to try to event :no:him ; it sounds as though you do not have a definitive diagnosis for this horse; i if you really like him, get one.:yes: I agree if , if you are considering resale it could be a major turn off for :eek: a prospective buyer:(