Need some eye care advice on a medicine hat paint?

Question

I'm looking at trading for a 3 year old gelding. He's black and white, good confirmation and color pattern. My paints all have dark around their eyes, and this one has white. He has 2 blue eyes, and I don't have a problem with this, but I am concerned with the summer sun affecting them. He will eventually be with my other horses with access to a big barn, coming and going as they please.
I don't want to have to lock him inside during the day. Will he need a mask 24/7? Or will I need to put one on in the morning and take it off at night? Will flies/mosquitos/gnats bother him more? What are your thoughts on sunscreen around the eyes? Is cancer something to be worried about?
I really like this horse, he is tall and stunning. I just don't want his eyes to be a big problem. The palomino filly I would be trading off is smaller and will be too short for me to ride. She would be going back to the original owner and a good home.
Your thoughts? Thanks!

Answer 1

As you know I have a perlino.

Sun is always an issue and for those days I hadn't taken precautions...it's now showing. He's getting dark pigmentation splotches around his eyes and nostrils...and a big one on his lip.

I will have to have it checked for cancer.



Tattooing is available for horses to give them eyeliner (I hadn't gone this route and wish I had).

Zephania: you are wrong on your research on tattooing of the eye. It helps reflect the sun's rays (not all mind you..but it helps) and it also reflects the sun from the actual vision of the horse so he doesn't have to squint....being that there is no black pigmentation around these pink skinned horses eyes.

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6640

Just one of countless links available.



Masking them during the day hours is highly suggested.

UV lotions on the face is also suggested. I'm careful not to use on a humid day so it won't drip or smear into his eyes. I rub into my hands then over his face.



EDIT:

my perlino is now 8...and his black splotches started last year.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I have a horse with an eye cancer.



He has one brown eye and one blue eye... it's the brown eye that's the problem!



This horse may or may not be more prone to sun problems. Mine isn't, but some are.



In that case, put a mask on him only during the day time. At night, he won't be able to see well. If it rains, take it off - he can't see through the water well. Remove it and check his eyes at least once a day - if they rub the mask or another horse, they may get a dent that irritates their eyes. Make sure it fits well.



Tattooing eye liner does not protect against the sun. The melanin in skin is dark and protects, but just adding dye doesn't. In fact, it may make the skin MORE sensitive to light, especially the first year.



Many, many horses have white around their eyes, and very few have any problems at all. I'd make the trade if that's the only issue!



Edit: Buckinfun, white reflects far more light than dark. While the tattoo may reduce glare into the eye just as black grease put under a football player's eyes does, that's the ONLY benefit. Dye does not protect from the sun. The dark particles absorb more of the energy thn the light skin, and cause more problems.



If you've ever gotten a tattoo, you know they must be protected from the sun more than regular skin.



Far better to use some athletic blacking than to tattoo.



Edit2: Just read the article... says basically what I just said, and the opinion of a nurse specializing in cosmetic problems of humans is not exactly definitive.

Answer 4

I've always heard that the biggest eye problems on Paints tend to happen on horses with white around their blue eyes.

But of course it happened - the show mare I bought a few years ago has a big bald face. The eye that's blue has white around it. Her eyes looked super when i bought her, and the previous owners swore she never had problems, but I was sceptical (how much can you trust someone that wants to sell you their horse?!)

Guess what? I haven't had a moment's problems with her eyes. Her eyes do not water more than other horses in the summer or in the winter (I'd heard snow glare could cause problems)

So I guess each horse is an individual. My mare is now six, and I've had her 3 years, so if the problem hasn't started yet, it isn't likely.

I am very careful to use a long face mask on her in the hottest part of the summer months. Part of this is to prevent sunburn on that eyesocket, also to prevent her nose from sunburning. She is a bit of a brat about taking off her fly mask, but generally we get through the summer with very little burn.

Flies and bugs do not bother her any more than othe horses. I have had one Paint through the years that was somewhat prone to a watery eye. I have no idea why he had mild problems and my others have not. Yes, he had lots of white on his face, but less than some of my horses, and both his eyes were brown! I had a vet check them, and he had no obvious cause for the increase in discharge, it was just the way he was. Never awful, just a bit more than average.

So I think you can relax. If this is an ideal horse in every other way, and his eyes appear fine now, then you likely won't have huge problems in the future. Good luck.

Answer 5

He only needs a mask during daylight hours. My paint wears her long nose Crusader mask all day until about 6 pm in warmer months. You can also use sunscreen, but I like the masks better since sunscreen can attract more insects, while the mask prevents them and protects her from sunburn. In the dead of summer I often use both a sunscreen and the mask, just to be sure (in case she gets the mask off). She is out 24/7 with a run in, but our run in has fans in summer so the horses stand in front of them at night to blow the bugs away. Cancer is always a possibility if you allow the skin to be sunburned. My black skinned Arab gelding also wears his mask all day in warmer months, so barring occasional use of sunscreen, the paint isn't really cared for any differently because of her pink skin.

Answer 6

We had one we used a super mask, fly mask on. It worked well. But it is not recommended to turn them out in a field with a lot of stobs to poke them if you leave it on all night. Better still take it off at night.



We tried the human sunscreen on her and she blistered with it. Apparently she was allergic.

Answer 7

a mask with uv protectors built in will defiantly be helpful.

i face the same problem with my bald faced gelding.

i use human spf 45 sport stick sunscreen around his eyes. (not super close but close enough)

Answer 8

hey tis me the lovely lady who's name shall remain anonymous...





I used to work for a coloured stock horse stud in australia with cremellos perlinos and such.....anywho she covered them up full with cotton rugs and hoods with ear covers sewn in and a nose flap that went around muzzle and fly screen for the eyes that bulged out....it worked wonders, she changed the hood to a neck rug at night and put the hood back on in the morning...





when i come to america we should go riding I'll hire a medicine hat and we can be drooled over, on our awesome horses....

Answer 9

"Buckinfu"



Great answer!!!!