A Closer Look at EQUINE VISION
It’s vital to address your horse’s eye problem sooner rather than later. It may save his eye or be the source of certain behavioral and training issues.
By Amber Heintzberger
With their eyes placed on the sides of their heads, horses can see around them but not directly in front or behind them. As fight-or-flight animals, they are constantly scanning their surroundings.
it can be difficult for us to appreciate why they react the way they do when a vehicle passes them on the road, a deer bounds across a field or an exuberant dog runs up behind them on a trail ride. Understanding how their vision differs from ours can help us have more empathy for these situations. Recognizing common ailments of the
U
eye can prevent major problems with your horse’s health and training. Your horse’s vision is an essential part of his health and survival and it is critical for successful performance, yet it is often overlooked. When a sport horse starts spooking, trip- ping or knocking down rails, it’s worth having a look at his eyes as you go through the list of potential training and health challenges that could be affect- ing him.
nderstanding how the equine eye works will help you recognize why your horse behaves the way he does. Because horses see differently than humans,
while speaking in a gentle tone, it helps the horse recognize that you intend no harm. Horses don’t see color as vividly as humans, adds Dr. Kristy
A horse’s
approximate range of sight.
Moding of Starwood Equine in Woodside, California. When your horse is taking a second look at a brightly colored jump, for example, it may be the contrast more than the actual color that catches his attention. Thanks to their large pupils, rod-dominant retina and a reflective tapetum lucidum layer (the part that makes horses’ eyes glow when light shines in them), they do see better at night than we do. It is worth pointing out that it takes even healthy horses much longer than humans to adjust from bright sunlight to dark- ness, which is something to consider if you are showing in an indoor arena in the middle of summer. “A lot of what we know about vision in horses is extrap- olated from human eye research.
How Horses See “Horses don’t generally see well directly in front of and behind them because their eyes are on the sides of their head,” explains Dr. Rachel Gardner of BW Furlong and Associates in Oldwick, New Jersey, an equine internal medicine specialist with an inter- est in equine ophthalmology. “So being able to turn their heads and raise them up and down is critical. They are flight animals, so being able to get away from things quickly is important to them.” Non-horse people don’t understand it is best to approach
horses from the side, so they can get a good look at their visitor. As you walk up to their shoulder and give them a pat
We can’t see like a horse, but sometimes I wish I could for a day!” says equine ophthalmologist Dr. Rich- ard McMullen. “They do have a fairly small ‘blind spot’ right in front and behind them,
but they compensate for that very well.” Dr. Richard
McMullen teaches equine ophthalmology at the Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine. A native of Califor- nia, he obtained his veterinary degree in Germany, and he holds veterinary licenses in Alabama and in Germany. “The lateral placement of their eyes gives them a wide field
of view from each eye. They scan the horizon with each eye, from two different perspectives,” he continues. “They react to things we don’t see because they’re constantly scanning their surroundings in the distance. Often, something will alarm
Warmbloods Today 37
Ed Haas
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