It all started innocently enough. A simple conversation with Becky Roy, the founder of Draft Gratitude, and I. As usual, we talked about how our rescues were doing and our residents.  We both have horses with Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL) and both are using the Hinez Compression Sleeve.  Soon the conversation turned to questions about dealing with a blind horse.

We both heard the general recommendations for dealing with blind horses, but we both knew that dealing with a blind draft horse would be a whole different ballgame.  We both had more questions than answers and the conversation waned.

Fast forward a few weeks when Becky and I were talking again.  She said that she knew about a blind horse in my area that needed help and would I be willing to talk to her contact.  I said that I would, but that I really wanted to wait until the weather broke to take on another rescue.

Famous last words.  We drove to the Finger Lakes Region a few weeks later and picked up Barney.

Barney’s story is no different than many other draft horses that are no longer able to work, with one exception.  Barney is almost completely blind.  For a draft horse that is set to go to a livestock auction, being blind is a death sentence.  The only people most likely to purchase a horse like Barney are the kill buyers.  They know that they can purchase the horse for next to nothing and make a nice profit when they sell the horse to the slaughterhouse for meat.

To prepare for Barney’s arrival, we put markers on the fence so that he could hear them waving in the wind and we put Titan in the same pasture.  What do they say about the best-laid plans?

After being on the same farm for 15 years, Barney was confused and scared.  He was so disoriented that he shocked himself on the fence as he walked around in circles.  He did it so many times that he made himself dizzy.  I quickly ran out to grab him and get him back to the barn.

Plan B

It was obvious from being around Barney that he is able to see movement of some sort.  The movement just had to be very obvious.  So I decided to attach plastic snow fence to our electric fence.  That way he would touch the plastic before the electric fence and he could see the snow fence flapping in the wind. Once again, what do they say about the best-laid plans?

Mother Nature was definitely laughing as she watched me put the snow fence up.

My area is notorious for being windy.  Hence why a wind farm was erected in my town.  It took one day for the wind to start breaking zip ties.  While the snow fence was a good temporary solution, it was not going to work permanently.

Plan C

To make Barney’s pasture as safe as possible for him, it is obvious that he needs different fencing.  So between myself and Kyle from J&K Agriculture, Inc., we came up with a plan to install a rail and rope fencing system.  The top line will be a rail that Barney will be able to touch without getting shocked.  If he happens to test the rail, the two remaining rope lines will be electrified to stop him from walking through it.

We are looking to install the new fence this summer, but we need your help.  The fence will cost us $6660.  Please help by donating to Barney’s Fence Fund.