BlindHorses.org

In addition to blind horses, residents of the Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary include blind dogs, deaf dogs, blind cats, and animals with medical problems like muscular dystrophy. As it turned out, their very first resident was a blind Quarter Horse named Lena (photo above). This beautiful chestnut mare showed Steve and Alayne how a blind horse can have a wonderful quality of life, if only given a chance.

Steve and Alayne created the BlindHorses.org web site because of the e-mails and calls they get from people who have just learned their horse is going blind. These people have friends and relatives telling them to put the horse down. Too often, Steve and Alayne hear that a vet is also recommending euthanizing the horse, and not offering the owner any other option.

In the process of going blind – or suddenly losing sight altogether – a horse can become frightened and confused, just as people do. And, left untreated, the pain caused by some eye diseases can temporarily affect their personalities.

Yet Steve and Alayne have found that handicapped animals in general are quick to accept and adjust to their disabilities. This is true of blind horses, who just want to be … well, horses. All 24 blind horses at the sanctuary do remarkably well. Visitors often don’t realize that the horses wandering through a pasture or ambling across a corral are blind.

Steve and Alayne’s single most important message is this: Your blind horse can have a wonderful, enjoyable life! Give it that chance. Your blind friend, living in its newly dark world, will come to cherish and depend on you like never before. The two of you will learn to communicate in a new way. And your life will be richer for it.