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Talk to me about sclera...

I wasn't sure of the best place to put this, but I feel most people check this particular section where they might not check others. What does it mean when a horse has "sclera"? I am aware of what the sclera is is anatomically, but I don't understand why people say a horse "has sclera" (since ALL horses do). What do they have when they "don't have sclera"? Do they solely mean the sclera is white? Isn't ALL sclera white? If it's not white, what is it? Do they solely mean that the eye shape (the shape of the lids?) is such that the sclera is either visible or not? What gives?

Sara Sat, 05/16/2009 - 20:13

Yes, when I hear it I assume people mean visible white sclera. Many of my Welshes and Welsh crosses have it.

The Welsh breeders like it because they say it indicates an intelligent pony. I think the ponies just [i]look[/i] intelligent because of their "human" eyes.

Hunter trainers do not like it because [i]they[/i] say it indicates a crazy horse! I think they are just associating it with horses that are terrified and have their eyes rolled back in their heads.

Where did that girl's other rein go?

CMhorses Sat, 05/16/2009 - 23:55

Wow I've never seen a solid colored horse with such a white sclera. Do you know what makes it white? I know alot of appaloosas and paint horses have it.

PamelaTX Sun, 05/17/2009 - 00:26

[color=#8000BF][b]Yeah I have a friend who's AQHA stallion has eyes like that.
I find it creepy & don't like it at all!! lol

His name is Starkist Kid a son of Kid Clu[/b][/color]
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/…]
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/…]
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/…]
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/…]
[img]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f345/…]

rabbitsfizz Sun, 05/17/2009 - 04:15

It is supposed to be an indication of Appy, and Mini people take it as cast in stone, if a horse has "sclera" (ie white showing round the eyes) it has to have Appy!!!
I find this mildly amusing, myself, I have to say.
It is also interesting, as a lot of horses with no Appy breeding at all do show it, and we tend to call it a "wild" eye, as in all horses can do that when they are alarmed.....
No, it is not liked in Showing circles.

Maigray Sun, 05/17/2009 - 05:52

Lots of Arabians have it. You would not believe the debates it has inspired in the halter circles, as it is traditionally frowned upon in hand.

Heather Sun, 05/17/2009 - 06:22

I had a mare that had it (QH) and I might have some old pics, but she devloped a horrible sun scar tissue on the white of her eye due to it.

Dilutes Sun, 05/17/2009 - 07:49

My boy Saxon has the white sclera but only in the inner corners of his eyes. He's a ASB x stockhorse/welsh.

He actually doesn't have black lining around his eyes. It's actually mottled, I wonder if it's connected to the sclera or vice versa? He actually has a fair bit of mottling on his body which is overall pink skinned. He has one definate white sock with a full white hoof but his other three hooves are stripped, I wonder if it's because he carries silver? He also has a star and a snip.

lipigirl Sun, 05/17/2009 - 07:57

My silver white pinto mini stallion has it and I always asumed it was because of the sabino in his case, I used to not like white sclera but now I quite like it.

Dilutes Sun, 05/17/2009 - 08:00

When I first viewed Saxon I was a bit turned off by it but he had a such a lovely nature which mattered most to me that I put it aside. Now on him I do like it too :) I think it just makes him look a little different to my other horses and it doesn't stand out much because he's so light.

rabbitsfizz Sun, 05/17/2009 - 11:16

I would not have called that "sclera" I would have said that was slightly more than usual...of course all of it is "sclera" if we are being pedantic, but it is the excentuated white, that makes the horse look as if it is wild eyed, that is usually referred to as sclera.
Yes, the Silver will cause striped hooves, BTW.
I have had the white sclera with Sabino, but had not associated it with Sabino as such, rather, when I have had it it has come hand in hand with a broad white blaze.
Victor, Sabino Welsh Cob, had a narrow white blaze and no prominent sclera......

Dilutes Sun, 05/17/2009 - 20:50

Saxon has no known appy background. His mottling doesn't look like appy freckling either. When his muzzle is wet, it's actually mottled with pink too. His body is actually pink with a little spots on his body like his perlino sire. I'm assuming that's where he gets it from?

He's the silver palomino I had posted on old forum when I couldn't join. His mum is a registered silver bay mare (colour reg) and his sire is a registered perlino ASB.

http://www.freewebs.com/doradoplace/sta…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Four days old-
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/…]

This is Saxon several months ago and you can see some of his pink skin on his body. -
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/…]

[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/…]

His dam- As far as I know, she was only tested for silver and red. She carries copy of silver and one of red. She wasn't tested for agouti that I know of.
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/…]

In her extreme winter woollies lol
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/…]

His sire- Sudden Impact actually shows a white sclera in some of his pics.
[img]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/…]

Saxon was sold as a silver palomino. He had been tested only for silver and carries one copy of silver.

accphotography Sun, 05/17/2009 - 22:46

Well that is FASCINATING!!! (Now I know who you are too. :lol: ) It is normal for palominos to have some mottling. It doesn't usually look like appy mottling either.

The striped feet on a RED based horse with silver is something I've been waiting to hear for a LOOOONG time!! :bounce

Is it PPG that has a red based silver (gold champagne with silver?) horse? I wonder if his/her feet are striped too.

lillith Mon, 05/18/2009 - 03:45

Is it me or does daddy look champaign? that shimmer and the skin colour says champaign to me? could be 'ivory' or cream + champaign? that could explain his skin colour, especialy if dad is double cream and champaign.

Dilutes Mon, 05/18/2009 - 05:17

I think my problem is that the only previous cream horses I'd owned were buckies and I was used to seeing darker pallies. Saxon's light coat just shows off his skin more so than a darker pally when's he's wet. Something I'm not used to and because I read sites where they said pallys have dark skin, it confused me (doesn't take much at times lol).

I'm wrong too btw, he has full white around his eyes, it's just his inner corners that are more obvious. I noticed it today when he was eating and his eyes were flicking back and forth with enjoyment :) .

I'll take some pictures of Saxon's hooves to post here, tomorrow.

Website with two pics of Sudden Impact, Saxon's sire.

http://www.freewebs.com/doradoplace/ind…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

rabbitsfizz Mon, 05/18/2009 - 06:50

Well, he looks Perlino to me!!
I had never heard of the sheen being caused by Champagne, and have had non Champagne Palominos with it, often.
Are Akhal Tekes Champagne???
Although I had not thought about it, I can't see any reason why the Silver would not affect the hooves on a Red base animal....worth investigation!!!
I have had Palominos with striped hooves, though, and also mottles skin.

lillith Mon, 05/18/2009 - 06:54

Tekes aren't champaign but both champaigns and tekes seem to have an unusual sheen to the coat, something to do with the hair structure.

Andrea Mon, 05/18/2009 - 10:52

Frodo showed it big time as a yearling and now only if he looks forward or behind.
I don't care for the look at all and am really happy it's not as prominate as it was. So far Ditto isn't showing it, but Fortune does.
I've associated it with bald faces.

Morgan Mon, 05/18/2009 - 11:54

Dusty hase it on one eye and not on the other, made training a bit interesting untill I got to know him.

I really like the look of a blue eye with brown scelera, makes it pop more. It seems if it's white the blue looks more icey.

Sara Mon, 05/18/2009 - 11:56

I've actually learned to really like it since acquiring Tickle and Owen (I can't find a photo that shows it). I do prefer for there to be colored hair and skin around the eye though.

rabbitsfizz Mon, 05/18/2009 - 12:50

[quote="Morgan"]

I really like the look of a blue eye with brown sclera, makes it pop more. It seems if it's white the blue looks more icey.[/quote]
Any pictures, I either don't understand you or have never seen this!! :laugh1

accphotography Mon, 05/18/2009 - 14:55

WOW Threecritters!!! :o

Morgan, you're right, that is GORGEOUS!

I guess I'm going to have to look at Lacy's eye closer. I feel like I only see her sclera in the front or behind, never on top or bottom, so I wonder if she has brown sclera top and bottom and white front and behind... or if maybe her eye just isn't big enough to see the top and bottom sclera. Hmmmm.

rabbitsfizz Tue, 05/19/2009 - 06:09

Yes, it is pretty but the sclera is still white.
The brown liner just tones it down a bit.
I had never even thought about it, I will have to have a look and see if I've seen this before, I'm sure I must have done!!!

Andrea Thu, 05/21/2009 - 16:49

I thought scelara was the white/pink fleshy tissue in the corner of the eyes. Not the eyelids... I love eyeliner on all horses with brown or blue eyes.