[pippy]

Instead of longing her try long lining instead - means she can keep her good eye on you if you position yourself in the right place behind her at all times - that way you don't lose the valuable teaching of longing/work from the ground. And you get to go left and right make sure your competent at it first - perhaps having a go on a exerience horse if you haven't had a go before would be a good idea also.

I'd go with what Cara said - treat her as a baby who has never done anything before, and get creative and thinkoutside the square in your mehtods so you can do work from left/right with her blind eye.

Good luck

[Cara]

Originally Posted by pippy

Instead of longing her try long lining instead

I thought about this too... but I again don't know if its a great idea, if she really is nervous about people in her left eye, what are you going to do when you bend to the left? When long lining, you stay off to one side depending on what side you're working on, so you're going to run into the same issues.

I agree that long lining and lunging are great aspects to training, but you've got to be willing to be flexible and try different approaches, esp since you've got a green/unbroke, spooky, half-blind horse that you're trying to start under saddle.

[Liz906]

Yes haha, these are all great idea thanks again everyone !

[pippy]

Originally Posted by Cara

I thought about this too... but I again don't know if its a great idea, if she really is nervous about people in her left eye, what are you going to do when you bend to the left? When long lining, you stay off to one side depending on what side you're working on, so you're going to run into the same issues.

I agree that long lining and lunging are great aspects to training, but you've got to be willing to be flexible and try different approaches, esp since you've got a green/unbroke, spooky, half-blind horse that you're trying to start under saddle.

I also mentioned that its ok provided you stay in the line of sight of the right eye - which is possible as long as you use the rope correctly you can stay on the same side. Then work towards standing on the left side when the confidence is up. An old horse of mine was blind in her left eye and i started her from scratch being blind, she was also fizzy and extremely spooky, she now belongs to a child who takes her to pony club, long lineing her was our biggest step fowards as she learnt with someone behind her it wasn't that scary to walk past things as she had the trust in herself/me that was when she was asked to go fowards it was ok - took time but the only way to get there was long line her - how will she feel once a rider is one her back etc etc, it was to risky to ask her go fowards from her back past something spooky when she can't see you on that side while being ridden either. its a lot to take on one thats blind in one eye- but very rewarding once you get the trust, but be warned your patience willbe tried many times lol.

[Liz906]

Originally Posted by pippy

I also mentioned that its ok provided you stay in the line of sight of the right eye - which is possible as long as you use the rope correctly you can stay on the same side. Then work towards standing on the left side when the confidence is up. An old horse of mine was blind in her left eye and i started her from scratch being blind, she was also fizzy and extremely spooky, she now belongs to a child who takes her to pony club, long lineing her was our biggest step fowards as she learnt with someone behind her it wasn't that scary to walk past things as she had the trust in herself/me that was when she was asked to go fowards it was ok - took time but the only way to get there was long line her - how will she feel once a rider is one her back etc etc, it was to risky to ask her go fowards from her back past something spooky when she can't see you on that side while being ridden either. its a lot to take on one thats blind in one eye- but very rewarding once you get the trust, but be warned your patience willbe tried many times lol.

Thanks Pippy that helped alot [:

[Cara]

Originally Posted by pippy

I also mentioned that its ok provided you stay in the line of sight of the right eye - which is possible as long as you use the rope correctly you can stay on the same side. Then work towards standing on the left side when the confidence is up. An old horse of mine was blind in her left eye and i started her from scratch being blind, she was also fizzy and extremely spooky, she now belongs to a child who takes her to pony club, long lineing her was our biggest step fowards as she learnt with someone behind her it wasn't that scary to walk past things as she had the trust in herself/me that was when she was asked to go fowards it was ok - took time but the only way to get there was long line her - how will she feel once a rider is one her back etc etc, it was to risky to ask her go fowards from her back past something spooky when she can't see you on that side while being ridden either. its a lot to take on one thats blind in one eye- but very rewarding once you get the trust, but be warned your patience willbe tried many times lol.

hmm, that's very interesting and makes sense. just go slowly into this. keep us updated on how you do with this mare! I'm very intrigued...