What Is the Difference Between Glass Eyes & Normal Eyes in Horses?

Color is the only difference between glass eyes and normal horse eyes. Normal horse eyes are brown. According to "Storey's Horse-Lover's Encyclopedia", glass eye is only for certain breeds, usually American paint or appaloosa.

  1. Identification

    • The University of Minnesota defines glass eyes as nearly colorless eyes, but often they are just barely tinged with blue. A horse can have one or two glass eyes.

    Color

    • It was once thought that only horses with white heads had blue or pale eyes. But UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine claims that blue eyes can appear in horses of any color.

    Breeds

    • Glass eyes are most commonly found in mustangs, appaloosas, American paint horses, Clydesdale draft horses and any mixed breeds with white spots or patches.

    Tradition

    • Terms for the same object differ for those who ride English style than those who ride Western style. Western riders call it a glass eye, while English riders may say wall eye, China eye or Clydesdale eye.

    Misconception

    • Although blue or glass eyes are unusual, they are not a sign that the horse has vision problems, according to the University of Minnesota.