I have a mare here who only has partial vision and has had an awesome show career. I made the decision to retire her after the last show of the year we went to, which was September 27th. She even went Supreme Champion at one show this summer. I've shown her 6 years and to see her perform, you'd never know she was any different then any other horse I bring in the ring. Anyone else who has handled her for me in a class has also never known she was any different. She can not see behind her out of either eye. The benefit...tacking her up to drive at home is simple....no need for blinders
! Out of her right eye, she can not only not see behind her, but what she is able to see is nothing but a blur. Out of her left eye, she can not see behind her and at her last eye exam, had a small cataract forming in that eye as well. Needless to say, in her show harness with blinders, she can only see a very small amount. However, what the mare lacks in vision, she makes up in heart. She WANTS to perform, she knows she's a halter horse and is one of those special show horses who live for the show ring. She jumps, does obstacle(won her final class at her final show in an obstacle class), drives, etc. I've been with her for 6 years, so she trusts me enough that driving her with the blinders on has not been an issue. She has handled the changes in her sight so well that it took us quite awhile to figure out anything was going on. She went undefeated in halter for 3 years, has never pinned lower then 2nd as a driving horse and has been my ultimate show Mini. She's got a heart the size of Texas and she doesn't seeem to understand that she doesn't see like every other horse out there.
Your horse is young. Him having affected vision so early in his life may work to an advantage for you. He wont know any different and you will be suprised at what he's still able to do. If you really like him...give him a chance. You will be suprised how little it'll probably affect him.
Here are links to photo's of my mare at her final show....with limited vision(I have ordered and paid for the photos...just waitng for them to arrive in the mail. All photo's by Michelle Shea)
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage....00031&po=31 Halter
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage....0255&po=255 Liberty
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/orderpage....0288&po=288 Jumping
~Jen~