When Plans Change in the Blink of an Eye

They say if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. In the horse world, it feels like those plans can change—quite literally—in the blink of an eye.

Today, we spent the morning at the Viikki Veterinary Hospital with Devil. We were there to investigate a lump that had rapidly appeared on his right eyelid. It’s grown to a size where it has started to interfere with his field of vision, making it more than just a cosmetic concern.

The Diagnosis or getting there anyway

After several consultations with eye specialists, the verdict is in: The lump needs to be surgically removed.

During the examination, the vets confirmed also something I’ve always sensed—Devil is incredibly sensitive when it comes to his eyes. Part of this is down to genetics; his striking light blue eyes are naturally more sensitive than the "standard" dark horse eye. However, the exam also revealed an old injury in that same eye, likely dating all the way back to his birth. It certainly explains why he’s never been a fan of anyone poking around his face!

Shifting Gears

This feels a bit bittersweet. Our training has been progressing beautifully all spring, and Devil has felt absolutely incredible lately. It seemed like we were on an unstoppable path, but life clearly had a different detour planned for us.

For the sake of safety and guideline from the vet, we are scaling back his training to light "happy hacking" and easy movement until we get his surgery date. As frustrating as it is to pause our competitive goals, there is no debate: the horse’s health always comes first.

Looking Ahead

After todays examinations and a rather unpopular "dark room" treatment (which Devil made very clear he is not enjoying!), we are moving into a different phase for the summer. Until the eye specialist is free for the operation, Devil will be heading out to pasture. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that this "little big man" will have plenty of time to work on his summer body and pack on some more mass while grazing.

While Devil takes a break, I am so incredibly grateful for my wonderful clients. I’m looking forward to focusing my energy on their talented youngsters and continuing to build them up for the show rings.

Health, patience, and plenty of grass—that’s the plan for now. We’ll keep you updated on Devil’s journey!