Contributing writer

By Steve Smith and Alayne Marker*

Cash was born on a Quarter Horse breeding farm in northern Alabama in February 2007. The couple who run the farm contacted us at Rolling Dog Ranch, when Cash was just four days old. Cash was blind because of a rare eye disorder called aniridia.

Cash, the blind horse. (Photo courtesy of Rolling Dog Ranch)

The couple felt they could not keep the foal and believed their only option was to euthanize him if we couldn’t help. And Cash needed to be gone from the farm within a month.

We are always reluctant to take a foal away from the mare at such an early age — normal weaning is at 4 to 6 months. But, as our vets tell us, if the foal is healthy and vigorous and has a zest for life, and if the alternative is euthanasia, then it’s a risk worth taking. We’ve had to do it before, with blind Destiny, who came from South Carolina when she was only 4 weeks old.

With a contribution from the breeder and his wife and a gift from a generous supporter in British Columbia, we were able to afford the cost of shipping Cash to Montana.

So we held our breath as Cash made his big trip across the country. He received excellent care from the folks at Bob Hubbard Horse Transportation. They were understandably nervous at first about transporting such a young foal without its momma, but after we explained the circumstances and assured them we understood the risks involved, they got behind this adventure.

So Cash arrived here on a snowy March night at 4 weeks of age. He immediately impressed us with his calm, easy-going nature. We could tell he’s one smart little boy, and he quickly figured out his environment and started mapping his boundaries right away.

The arrival of a blind baby like Cash helped keep the “cycle of life” going for us. It seemed fitting that a little disabled youngster would arrive full of energy and ready to be loved a few days after we lost our beloved old German Shepherd Pappy.

Cash is now a healthy, happy 2-year-old who’s developed into a real character. He enjoys opening the zipper on our jackets and sliding under corral fences to eat grass while lying down. He also seems to know he’s incredibly cute, and, yes, he’s quite full of himself.

* Steve Smith and Alayne Marker run Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary, in Ovando, Montana. Read about blind Labs Moose and Evelyn, who also live at Rolling Dog Ranch.

*