After getting the call that Tristan’s eye was a bit puffy and swollen, I canceled my quiet evening plans (I had recipes all picked out and everything!) and headed to the barn to check on him.
I quickly learned two things. First, his eye really wasn’t bad at all.
Though, before we start, I’d like to make something clear. As with any medical situation with a horse, you should know two things. First: know what your horse’s baseline is. That means following Pony Club guidelines and knowing your horse’s average temperature, respiration, heartbeat, and other bodily norms. Pay close attention even when they’re totally fine because that’s how you calibrate your instincts. Second: DO NOT mess around with eye injuries. Don’t. Don’t ever look at your horse’s eye and say “hmmm, that’s definitely weird, but I’ll let it slide for a few days and see what happens.” Many injuries, even bad ones, will hold in stasis for a few days while you observe; eyes can go south in a matter of hours and you do not want that on your conscience.
I am making a judgment call about not scheduling the vet because I have nearly a decade of experience with this horse and the things he does. I have treated a wide variety of eye problems with him specifically, and I have both a very good baseline and a clear timeline of progression. If his eye gets worse in any way, the vet will be out faster than you could finish reading this post. Okay? Okay. On to the pictures.
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