Tino's Amazing Come Back =)

PalominoBaby57 · 05-07-2008, 06:50 PM

As some of you know I got the bad news over spring break that Tino, My 24 year old quarter horse is going blind.

The news upset me and my mother greatly because Tino had been on retirement for 10 years, and I wanted to start re-training him so we could kick butt at some local shows and bring in some extra cash during the show season.

He hadnt been taking it well at all and the vet filled our heads with the idea of putting him down due to the fact that he would most likely hurt himself if he didnt calm down.

Pish Posh =)

In the course of 4 weeks I got a hold of my emotions and sat down with myself to make a serious plan. The week after the vet gave us the news we loaded Tino onto the trailer and brought him to my trainer.

100 percent perfect getting on and off the trailer. He was a little excited to see other horses but after 10 years of being by himself and then a whole year with only Scotch, I couldnt blame my boy =)

We decided not to tell my trainer he was going blind unless we had some real big problems. We worked very hard and even though he wasnt a champion right off the bat ( I forgive him

) he worked his big o'l butt as best he could. At the end of the lesson we told her that he is in advance stages of blindness and repeated what the vet had told us about euthinizing him. She rolled her eyes and told us some trust/bonding exersizes we could do with him.

Last night was our third official lesson with a trainer and he was acting like a five year old =)

Over the weekend I had taken him on a trail ride and all he wanted to do was go-go-go!!! He even wanted to chase a fox!! I couldn't believe it.

At our lesson last night Tino really was impressive. He trotted an entire15-20 minutes straight working as hard as he could before he finally asked for a break. He even had enough energy to do a small canter!!!! (THATS A HUGE ACHIEVMENT FYI!!!)

Today at my computer my mom had taped a paper to my desktop. It was a horse show schedule with a post it note that said "pick your classes".

We're gonna bring Tino along to some small time shows this summer!! Only walk trot of course and absolutley no poles until we train him properly for obvious reasons.

I am SO PROUD of my baby =) In the past four weeks he has taken huge strides that we never thought he'd acomplish.

I'm just soooo happy!!!

No pictures yet, but I plan to start taking weekly pictures so you can see the improvment in his muscles and fat. He's underweight right now and is SLOWLY gaining pounds. We have him on a weight builder and four quarts of senior feed a day. My trainer suggested corn oil? What are your thoughts?

Sorry its so long but I'm just SO HAPPY!

-Mary Honora <3

mustang_dodger · 05-07-2008, 06:53 PM

glad to hear every thing is ok

ILoveRedRanger! · 05-07-2008, 07:13 PM

Wow awesome... of course keep us updated.

Artrageous · 05-08-2008, 09:05 AM

can you really teach blind horses to do poles? That would be cool...!

Good luck with it, and keep us updated!

tucklove · 05-08-2008, 09:53 AM

Very happy for you both! I have heard that horses going blind are worse (more spooky, anxious) than they are once they are totally blind. Just because they can't quite figure out what some things are. Wonderful job, all the best of luck to you.

foxyfuzz · 05-08-2008, 10:52 AM

Awesome! There is a trainer over here in Oregon who had one of her horses go completely blind, but she does trail riding and does compete and is doing well with him.

EmazingCasper · 05-08-2008, 10:53 AM

very exciting! This girl at our fair rode her horse who is completely blind, and she didn't pretty good on him.

PalominoBaby57 · 05-08-2008, 01:17 PM

Yes, its true that when they're going blind its scarier. He's only seeing scary shadows right now that confuse him.

But he's def. relaxing a bit and understanding I wont let him go anywhere that'll get him hurt.

And i meant ground poles.... Jumping is a no =( He used to love it but I just refuse to take the risk.

He needs to learn a sound that'll teach him there are poles in front of him

He's an AMAZING showmanship horse =)

Scooterboy · 05-09-2008, 03:57 PM

Aww...
Where are you going to show him?
Clarkson? I can't wait to meet him.

imjustjoking22 · 05-09-2008, 04:04 PM

good for you! oh and rice bran works well for weight gain, in the pelleted form.

05-07-2008, 06:50 PM	#1
PalominoBaby57 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Rochester New York Posts: 1,759 Images: 334 Blog Entries: 3	Tino's Amazing Come Back =) As some of you know I got the bad news over spring break that Tino, My 24 year old quarter horse is going blind. The news upset me and my mother greatly because Tino had been on retirement for 10 years, and I wanted to start re-training him so we could kick butt at some local shows and bring in some extra cash during the show season. He hadnt been taking it well at all and the vet filled our heads with the idea of putting him down due to the fact that he would most likely hurt himself if he didnt calm down. Pish Posh =) In the course of 4 weeks I got a hold of my emotions and sat down with myself to make a serious plan. The week after the vet gave us the news we loaded Tino onto the trailer and brought him to my trainer. 100 percent perfect getting on and off the trailer. He was a little excited to see other horses but after 10 years of being by himself and then a whole year with only Scotch, I couldnt blame my boy =) We decided not to tell my trainer he was going blind unless we had some real big problems. We worked very hard and even though he wasnt a champion right off the bat ( I forgive him ) he worked his big o'l butt as best he could. At the end of the lesson we told her that he is in advance stages of blindness and repeated what the vet had told us about euthinizing him. She rolled her eyes and told us some trust/bonding exersizes we could do with him. Last night was our third official lesson with a trainer and he was acting like a five year old =) Over the weekend I had taken him on a trail ride and all he wanted to do was go-go-go!!! He even wanted to chase a fox!! I couldn't believe it. At our lesson last night Tino really was impressive. He trotted an entire15-20 minutes straight working as hard as he could before he finally asked for a break. He even had enough energy to do a small canter!!!! (THATS A HUGE ACHIEVMENT FYI!!!) Today at my computer my mom had taped a paper to my desktop. It was a horse show schedule with a post it note that said "pick your classes". We're gonna bring Tino along to some small time shows this summer!! Only walk trot of course and absolutley no poles until we train him properly for obvious reasons. I am SO PROUD of my baby =) In the past four weeks he has taken huge strides that we never thought he'd acomplish. I'm just soooo happy!!! No pictures yet, but I plan to start taking weekly pictures so you can see the improvment in his muscles and fat. He's underweight right now and is SLOWLY gaining pounds. We have him on a weight builder and four quarts of senior feed a day. My trainer suggested corn oil? What are your thoughts? Sorry its so long but I'm just SO HAPPY! -Mary Honora <3 __________________ Hello, my name is MARY *deal with it*

05-07-2008, 06:53 PM	#2
mustang_dodger Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Illinios Posts: 17,329 Images: 469	glad to hear every thing is ok __________________ Proud owner of Smart Devil a registered appendix, registered paint mare Eye's White Feather, and a breeding stock paint filly Firefly. I HAVE BEEN SPLATTED TWICE!

05-07-2008, 07:13 PM	#3
ILoveRedRanger! Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York Posts: 2,866 Images: 169	Wow awesome... of course keep us updated. __________________ Manuel You fat LARD come get some dinner! Only REAL Geldings wear PINK! Member of the Diseased Thread Club

05-08-2008, 09:05 AM	#4
Artrageous Full Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 211 Images: 24	can you really teach blind horses to do poles? That would be cool...! Good luck with it, and keep us updated! __________________ Alice: "I'll play you for it. Rock, paper, scissors." Edward: "Why don't you just tell me who wins?" Alice: "I do. Excellent."

05-08-2008, 09:53 AM	#5
tucklove Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 1,336 Images: 165 Blog Entries: 181	Very happy for you both! I have heard that horses going blind are worse (more spooky, anxious) than they are once they are totally blind. Just because they can't quite figure out what some things are. Wonderful job, all the best of luck to you. __________________ There's one bit that works on every horse; a bit of knowledge. Driftin Page 1982 AQHM Royally Smarter 1992 AQHG Savvy Shootin Tucker 2002 AQHG DirtySongNDance 2007 AQHM Simon 2007 cowdog RIP Peso Love you Weazer

05-08-2008, 10:52 AM	#6
foxyfuzz Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vernonia Oregon Posts: 583 Images: 55	Awesome! There is a trainer over here in Oregon who had one of her horses go completely blind, but she does trail riding and does compete and is doing well with him. __________________ The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become...

05-08-2008, 01:17 PM	#8
PalominoBaby57 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Rochester New York Posts: 1,759 Images: 334 Blog Entries: 3	Yes, its true that when they're going blind its scarier. He's only seeing scary shadows right now that confuse him. But he's def. relaxing a bit and understanding I wont let him go anywhere that'll get him hurt. And i meant ground poles.... Jumping is a no =( He used to love it but I just refuse to take the risk. He needs to learn a sound that'll teach him there are poles in front of him He's an AMAZING showmanship horse =) __________________ Hello, my name is MARY *deal with it*

05-09-2008, 03:57 PM	#9
Scooterboy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: In a yellow submarine... Posts: 331 Images: 20	Aww... Where are you going to show him? Clarkson? I can't wait to meet him. __________________ Tardys Lucky Babe: APHA Mare Goldseekers Mark: APHA Gelding Last edited by Scooterboy; 05-11-2008 at 07:22 AM.

05-09-2008, 04:04 PM	#10
imjustjoking22 Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Coastal California Posts: 3,878 Images: 74	good for you! oh and rice bran works well for weight gain, in the pelleted form. __________________ ~Ikelos- 2003 Oldenburg by Ideal~ My last and greatest gift from my mother. What would you do if you knew you could not fail? In a clear act of divine justice, Anne Coulter had to have her mouth wired shut this week.

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