Scout the blind horse
This
gentle Appaloosa was bone-thin and vision-impaired when a
lady in Boise, Idaho paid $200 to get him out of the sad situation
he was in. He clearly had endured a rough life.
She brought him home and started to give him the love, food and care he had rarely enjoyed in his past. She named him Scout.
A few months later Scout went totally blind. He would panic at the encroaching darkness, as so often happens in the first days or weeks when a horse loses its vision. She lacked the facilities to keep him safe while he made the adjustment to blindness, and she didn't think she could care for a blind horse long-term.
So she called Best Friends in Utah for help, and they suggested she call us. A few days later Scout arrived at the ranch after a long day in a trailer. He was very nervous his first couple of days here and jumped at all the new sounds. Yet even on his first morning he nickered when he heard us coming out to the barn.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Images open in a pop-up window
He gained confidence, and now he nickers whenever he hears us. He loves people and their company, and eagerly comes over to visit at the sound of voices.
Scout also showed himself to be a very good veterinary patient. Shortly after arriving he had another eye flare-up, requiring twice-a-day eye ointment and oral medications. He may not like us squirting ointment in his eyes and paste in his mouth - he'll toss his head around to make sure we know it - but pretty soon he'll let us medicate him without further fuss.
His first day out on pasture was a glorious fall day in the northern Rockies. He couldn't see how beautiful it was, but Scout enjoyed just getting out and wandering across the grass. Hours later, when we went to bring him back to the corral, he only reluctantly agreed to come in.
Scout gets Equine Senior twice a day, fresh carrots, and plenty of hay. And he loves coming into his barn stall every night where more treats await. He seems quite pleased with room service.
