George, a 19-year-old draft horse, lost his eye in an accident earlier this year. His young owner and rider, Lani Wall, said though he suffered the incident later in life, her tenacious old horse had shown no signs of wanting to stop entering the arena.
‘He’s a gentle giant, although he’s very particular about who he has on board,’ she said.
‘I was lucky to be given the opportunity from friends to start riding him in 2021, before I then took him on at the beginning of last year.
‘I’ve been riding since I was nine and I’m 21 now. I’m young – he’s old, but he’s going really well. During the early years of riding him, I discovered his cheeky, quirky side which I soon grew to love. This is the first big show since his surgery, we’re just looking to get him back into it. And as you can see, he’s raring to go.’
The team at Isabelle Vets carried out a three-hour operation to remove George’s eye in April. At the time, Miss Wall was told that it would be unlikely he could be ridden again. But after two weeks of recovery, she was back in the saddle.
‘They advised that the decision to try would ultimately be at my own risk,’ she said.
‘The trust we had built as a partnership meant I had no hesitation in getting back on. It took a long time to build that confidence between us, and patience has played a key role in making his recovery much easier.
‘He has taught me so much and has always approached his work with a willing attitude. Seeing how quickly he adapted, it felt only right to continue with him.’
George is not a unique case. Miss Wall said she was surprised to learn that multiple horses in Guernsey have and continue to successfully compete with only one eye.
‘I’m far more conscious of my surroundings now, and he depends more on my aids to help him navigate safely on his blind side,’ she said. ‘Aside from that, he’s exactly the same lovable horse and continues to take everything in his stride.’
And at the local BS showground, George put his best hoof forward for a triumphant comeback, jumping fences at 90cm and 1m.
‘He was a superstar,’ said Miss Wall after the show.
‘It felt like back to normal. It’s incredibly rewarding to see him back competing. After everything he’s been through, it feels like such a privilege to be back out doing what he loves. I’m incredibly proud of him.
‘As a quirky horse, I wasn’t sure how he would cope with losing an eye, but he has proved me completely wrong. He’s adapted remarkably well and has progressed incredibly in such a short amount of time.’
Moving forward, Miss Wall said the duo will focus entirely on enjoying the sport pressure-free, taking each day as it comes.
‘George’s happiness and wellbeing will always be my top priority,’ she said.