Harley's Gold
Grey mare Harleys Gold was originally taken in by Redwings’ Ada Cole centre, when her owner couldn't cope physically or financially any more.
Harley shows us her best side!
Harley was born with bilateral congenital cataracts – meaning surgery was needed when she was only nine months old.
The operation was a success in her left eye, but it was decided that the risk to her right eye was too great to warrant surgery. When she was younger her right eye did have full light sensitivity and could detect light from dark, but as she has aged, her sight has gradually faded.
Harley lived in a Guardian home for many years, but was later returned as her sight was an issue that became difficult to cope with. She now enjoys life at one of our specialist sanctuary farms north of Norwich, and shares a paddock with fellow ponies Zoe and Cherry, who also have vision defects.
Harley enjoys life with her fieldmates
Many horses with loss of vision are able to live a happy life. Every case is dealt with on an individual basis, as some horses cope better than horses. Horses are blessed with amazing hearing and can smell water from over a kilometre away, so many are good at using their other senses to compensate for loss of sight.
Redwings has vast experience in the welfare of partially-sighted horses. Unless it is totally necessary, they are rarely moved from their own paddock as it is important they become familiar with fence lines, shelters and water troughs – not to mention the company of their friends of course!
Another Redwings resident, Boo, is also blind following a shockingly violent attack. Read Boo’s story here
