Endo the Blind with Morgan Wagner

This article is from the August 2020 Horse Deals magazine.

Morgan, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first got involved in horses? I am 33 years old and live in Springfield, Oregon, US. Before Endo, I didn’t have much experience with horses and was almost entirely self-taught. I had to learn what worked and what didn’t through trial and error. This approach may have actually helped in some ways because it is the same technique I used so effectively when Endo had his eyes removed.

How did your partnership with Endo begin? When I was 13, my grandma let me pick a horse out from her herd. I chose the only few month old Appaloosa, Endo.

What was Endo like as a young horse before his blindness developed? He was opinionated, playful and very forward-moving.

What was the condition that affected Endo’s eyes and ultimately led to their removal? When he was eight years old, he started to squint a lot and had weepy eyes during summer. Endo was diagnosed with Equine Recurrent Uveitis, glaucoma and cataracts. I tried to lessen the painful flare-ups by eliminating dust and other eye irritants in the environment; only turning him out at night and giving him daily oral anti-inflammatories. Our vet was out multiple times a month with prescribed eye ointment and stronger oral medicine, but unfortunately nothing seemed to help — Endo’s eyes became more and more painful.

When was the decision made to remove his right eye? He was in a tremendous amount of pain and stopped eating because it hurt to chew and the medication affected his appetite. When his right eye had a very damaging flare-up, we made the decision to enucleate that eye to lessen his pain. After the surgery he was scared, shaking in his stall, so I spent the night with him, comforting him.

How did you prepare for him to be totally blind? I would blindfold him for brief periods of time, reassuring him and creating trust. At first he shook in fear, scared to move, but by the second attempt I was able to lead him around the arena blindfolded.

How did Endo respond to the second eye being removed? It was about six months after the first was removed and he recovered much more quickly and with more confidence than the first surgery. I credit that to the time I spent with him, helping him to gain confidence in sensing his surroundings without visual cues.

How did you keep him safe in the stable and paddock? When Endo started going blind, I got him a companion pony called Cinnamon who lives with him inside his stall and pasture. Now he can go into any new paddock or stall without my help. He can sense everything; trees, fencing, walls etc.

How did he cope with the return to being under saddle? He loves doing activities with me. We focused on despooking, voice cues and his own balance and confidence to help him cope.

How did you have to alter your training and approach new tasks? I use every new situation as an opportunity to help him be an all-around better horse. I also let him feel and check out what he can’t see when I’m trying to introduce him to something new.

How well does he sense his surroundings now? It’s like he can see. New environments are no problem.

What activities do you and Endo participate in? Everything we can.

How does jumping him differ to a horse with full sight? He honestly scares me when we jump over one without stopping before it. When I start the count down for the approach, he gets excited and forward. He then will sense the jump to try to do it on his own. I prefer jumping solid jumps by stopping in front for take off. We school competition height at home so he believes it will be that height at a show. If it’s taller, I let him touch it with his nose first. He then remembers the height and clears it easily.

Are there any actions you have to still be cautious with? His playfulness. He likes to take off to buck and play where he thinks should be clear. I don’t leave obstacles out in the arena if I turn him out to roll.

You and Endo have been a part of expos across the US and Canada. How did you familiarise him with such busy and loud environments? We built up to it.

Now 20 years of age, is he showing any signs of slowing down? He’s a tiny bit less of a hothead.

What has Endo taught you? To listen to breathing and steps etc. There is more going on around us than just what we can see.

How has he surprised you? Everything he does now. Initially, I just hoped he would be OK being a pet in a small pen or stall.

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