Dispelling a Myth???

Question
I have a question regarding the eyes of a horse. I acquired a 4 yr old Saddlebred gelding just recently and the barn that I keep him at is the property of a old time harness racer. The other boarder is also a harness racer. Both of these men saw my Saddlebred and automatically said he has "wild eyes". The whites of his eyes are prominent. All that I have read as well as my vet, warned me that this is a trait of the saddlebreds and not to be concerned. I have encountered comments about how owners get the startled look on the Saddlebred as well when they show. One of the harness race owners has blatantly said 'sorry, I don't trust a horse with wild eyes". I bought him when he was in dire straits and sickly because the owner went into the hospital to fight cancer and his family misunderstood instructions left for them. The horses were starving. Now that he's feeling better and getting consistent care he is naturally sassy. I find him to be very intelligent and merely looking for his spot in the pecking order. I can't help but consider their words but I still look to dispel them. Any advise would be appreciated.

Answer
Hi Cathy, Myth is a good term for this, like many things about horses.  You can hear all kind of things.  People have preferences, period.  I am not a fan of white on horse eyes, not because of bad, I just prefer brown eyes, they seem softer to me, but my quarter as white showing.  People that want to judge a horse for eye color, hair color, the number of hair swirls, the color of hooves, big ears, short back, short neck, long face, big nose, and the list goes on.  It is all just opinions that people prove right to themselves.

If I think a horse with white eyes are mean and I treat that horse different as if he is mean, I will make the horse responds differently and will confirm my own belief.  

I hear all the time excuses for horse behavior, the only reason for bad horse behavior is PEOPLE.  I hear my horse does like men, my horse does not trust people, my horse is scared of birds, my horse is scared of water, my horse was abused, IT DOES NOT MATTER.  A horse is a horse, he wants his place in the herd, he wants to feel safe and secure and he was to be treated fairly.  All that other junk is just junk.

I tell people all the time, look to yourself for any horse problem you are having, don't blame or look to the horse for the problem.  That only shows that you don't understand a horse and you confirm that if you blame the horse.

Hope this helps,

Rick

Check out my web site and read my horse history page to see the crazy things people have done to horses over the years.