CHALLENGE 6: COMPENSATE FOR SIGHT AND HEARING LOSSES

A horse’s vision and hearing may diminish somewhat as he ages, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that his lifestyle needs to change significantly.

Age-related hearing loss occurs in horses for pretty much the same reason it happens in people: Cumulative damage to the tiny hair-like structures in the inner ear interferes with their ability to convert sounds into electrical signals the brain can interpret. But because horses respond so readily to body language, they usually can get along just fine even if totally deaf.

Still, it’s good to know if your horse isn’t hearing well so you can adjust how you handle him. To find out, try standing just out of sight and shaking a bucket of grain; most horses will perk up at the noise. Also spend some time watching him while he’s turned out with his herd. If he often seems startled when other horses move around him, he may have trouble hearing them approach.

Keep in mind that an aging horse may develop cataracts or other conditions that interfere with his vision.

Yet even if he goes completely blind, he probably will do OK so long as you stick to his usual routines. But call your veterinarian right away if you notice redness, swelling, blinking, squinting, sunlight sensitivity as well as signs of significant vision loss, which include tripping, bumping into things, spooking and unexplained head shyness.