Blind faith: Owner Lydia Gallichan rides 20-year-old Herbie the horse along the beach in Jersey Splashing through the surf or cantering along the sand, Lydia Gallichan has remarkable confidence in her horse Herbie.
Remarkable because the 20-year-old Appaloosa is blind.
He lost one eye nine years ago when he speared it on a corn stalk while grazing
Two years ago he lost his sight completely after a tumour developed in his other eye.
However he has adapted so well that the casual observer would never notice any difference from the rest of the horses at his stable on the island of Jersey.
'Sometimes I really do forget he is blind,' said Miss Gallichan, 27.
Sure-footed: The horse has lost the sight in both of his eyes, yet still performs just as well as horses with perfect vision
Big softie: Herbie nuzzles owner Lydia's ear'I just want people to know that if a horse loses its sight it's not the end. Herbie is still the same character, if not even more so.'
Miss Gallichan, who works in a bank, has owned Herbie since she was 11.
She says she has to take a little extra care to steer him round obstacles.
Last leap: Herbie aged six competing with Lydia Gallichan before he went blindIf he needs to climb uphill she says 'up, up' so he knows to expect the change in gradient and going downhill she tells him 'steady' to make sure he doesn't go too fast.
'His hearing is incredibly sensitive,' she said. 'I can lead him in from the field and he will just follow my voice.'
Herbie's vet, Max Allan, said he believed that because the horse went blind slowly he had time to adjust to his disability.
'Horses are remarkably adept at coping. So long as they know where their food and water is, they will not worry about being blind.'
source: dailymail
Posts
