Horses with blue eyes (Complete Guide)

The horse also has blue eyes. How is this possible and what does it depend on?

The horse has a 300° view due to the lateral position of the eyes. Your vision can be binocular and monocular. In other words, the left and right eyes see two different views and send signals to two different hemispheres of the brain. Then they begin to perceive two unequal realities. Or, he can have a frontal view with which he sees with both eyes, with which he covers a field of 70°.

horse with blue eyes

The blue-eyed horse is surrounded by several myths and legends. Many have associated the rarity of the eye color to the madness and unreliability of the horse. In other cases, it has been alleged that a blue-eyed horse was prone to developing tumors. In some gypsy traditions, the gypsy winnower carried a piece of heaven in his eyes.

horses with blue eyes

Colors of the eyes of horse

Most horses have brown eyes. Many horses and some breeds can also Light Blue, mentioned gazzuolo In rare cases, the color can be green or purple.

Blue eyes are common to all horses and all coats. Some breeds of horses are more likely to have blue eyes. It is very common in horses with spotted coats, such as the paint and appaloosa, and in light-coated specimens.

The colored part of the eye is the iris that surrounds the pupil. The pigmentation of the iris depends on the concentration of melanin. If the eye is dark, there is a greater amount of melanin; when it is lighter, the amount of melanin that pigments the iris is less.

In addition to blue eyes, horses can have both heterochromia as mosaicism.

Heterochromia when they have eyes of different colors. Usually one eye is blue, the other black or brown. Heterochromia is due to a different concentration of melanin in the two eyes.

It has no influence on the quality of vision. However, if it occurs over time, it can result from pathological problems or trauma.

Mosaicism is when the horse has two different colors in one eye. The iris is bichromatic. Mosaicism occurs from birth. It is genetically transmitted, but if it occurs after birth, it can be an alteration of the iris after a trauma or a manifestation of pathologies. All mammals can present a mosaicism.

Breeds of horses with blue eyes

Akhal-Teke

Akhal-Teke is an ancient breed originating from Turkmenistan. It is believed to be derived from the Turkoman horse, ancestor of the now extinct Arabian. A horse with a particular coat with metallic reflections. It can be blond, sandy, black, gray or sour, white palomino, golden black, golden isabelle and finally isabela pink, a salmon pink that often has blue eyes. The height at the withers varies between 154 and 165 cm. Elegant, heavenly and proud. It has an animated character.

Albino

albinos horse

The albino horse also called American White is an American breed. The milky white coat and blue eyes are typical. It has a very gentle character, although it is a robust and sun-sensitive horse. The height at the withers is 150 to 158 cm. The eyes of the albino are always blue.

American Cream Beer

The American Cream Draft is an equine breed native to the United States, characterized by the cream-colored coat that derives from the genes of the champagne. It was recognized in 1941. It is derived from a cross with a mare called Old Grammy who had a cream colored foal from which the breed is descended, later crossed with Percheron, Shire, Brabançon and Flamengo.

Paint horse

Pinto was created by the Indians and later crossed with horses of Spanish origin and later with the fourth horse. The height varies from 135 to 160 cm. An intelligent and reliable horse. Some specimens have blue eyes.

Appaloosa

Resistant and flexible, the appaloosa was created and selected by the red skins. It has a docile and faithful character and a height of no more than 162 cm. Resistant and flexible, the appaloosa was created and selected by the red skins. It has a docile and faithful character and a height that does not exceed 162 cm. Some specimens have blue eyes.

Gitane Vanner

The Irish Cob known as Tinker or Gypsy Vanner. A beautiful breed characterized by a thick tail and mane and long shin hair. Selected by the gypsies who bred Vanner to tow wagons. Elegant ground, with a docile and helpful character. Suitable for light and medium towing, for equestrian tourism and for dressage. Height less than 170 cm. Some specimens have blue eyes.

Lusitano

The Lusitano is originally from Portugal. Stemming from Arab and Berber horses, it is suitable for saddle, but also for schooling. A courageous and faithful character. The height at the withers is 152 to 162 cm. Many Lusitans of Isabella color have blue eyes.

Shetland

The Shetland is the best-known and most widespread native pony of Great Britain, Scotland, the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands, which are its ideal habitat. A mountain horse and a very strong heather. Ideal for riding a child but also as a companion horse. The coat is black, but also blond, brown, gray and spotted. A vigorous and robust pony, but sometimes with a difficult character. The height at the withers reaches a maximum of 107 cm. Some Shetland spotted dogs may have blue eyes.

Falabella

It is considered the smallest pony in the world. Originally from Argentina. The breed was selected at Fazenda Recreo de Roca, near Buenos Aires, owned by the Falabella family. The falabela is well proportioned, derived from a Shetland cross, selecting the smallest specimens. An ideal pony for company, used as a saddle for small children and small trailers. Intelligent and reliable. Unlike other horses, it has only 17 vertebrae, instead of 18, and one pair of ribs less. It can be of any color and the height at the withers should not exceed 85 cm. Some specimens, especially the pezzatti or painted ones, may have blue eyes.

How to take care of your horse’s eyes?

One must be vigilant about the signs of call: half-closed or swollen eyelids, abnormal redness, opacities, lacrimation, serous (translucent) or purulent (opaque) discharges, …

Element of anatomy

On these two schematic drawings, already published in the article “The vision in the horse”, you can locate the anatomical points to know:

Corneal ulcers

These are “abrasions” of the cornea, the transparent membrane that covers the eye and protects it, they are often due to shocks, rubbing, dust or strands of straw …
It is necessary to diagnose them, because most eye drops or ophthalmic ointments contain an anti-inflammatory, contraindicated in case of ulcers. The test, done with a fluorescent product, because they are often invisible to the naked eye, must be performed by your veterinarian.
In case of doubt, and in the absence of a precise diagnosis, avoid using eye drops containing cortisone.

Conjunctivitis

These are inflammations (more or less infectious) of the ocular mucous membranes, which are often red, swollen, accompanied by lacrimation and secretions. They are frequent and it is necessary to react quickly before aggravation.

The first reflex is to clean and bathe the affected eye with a cleaning and soothing solution. Only your veterinarian will be able to indicate antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatments in case of aggravation.

Basic care

Negative to the anti-doping control, without contraindications, this cleaning care must be your first reflex in front of any eye problem.
The gesture to approach the horse is indicated on the photo opposite: thumb on the lower eyelid, index finger on the upper eyelid, light pressure with spreading, which evert the eyelids and make the third eyelid located in the internal angle of the eye go up.

Medicated products

There are many products available, some for human medicine, others specifically for veterinary medicine. We must distinguish between :

Eye drops or ointments that are strictly antibiotic.

For example, Tememyxin Eye Drops*, or Ophthalon* ointment. Only antibiotics, to be applied locally, they are not positive to anti-doping control, and their use requires a treatment time to be respected (be careful not to use antibiotics once in a while, it is the best way to have a resistant infection).

Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops or ointments

Be careful, these products, which seem harmless, can make the horse positive at the anti-doping control, because of the cortisone they contain and which gives them their effectiveness. For example, Fradexam Collyre*.