Eye diseases and blindness in pit horses - a retrospective analysis

In former times mine horses often suffered from eye diseases and blindness, which probably were induced or favoured by a carotene-/vitamin A-deficienc y. This assumption is based on reports about feeding low carotene diets (ha y, oats, molasses, bran) discoloured body fat in mine horses as well as on clinical observations such as frequent injuries on the head and changes in behaviour. However, the existence of other causes cannot be excluded. The observations in mine horses give some informations ahout the consequenc es of vitamin A-deficiency which is rarely observed in horses with conventi onal feeding practice.