Since Pete, our lovely 16-year-old, 19h Belgian gelding, joined us here last year at Trot in Time, he has won a lot of hearts. He has certainly won ours! He is a big boy, and until Willie joined us partway through the year last year, he was our herd boss. And he made a good one—fair and just, always making sure that even the horses lower down the herd ranks were treated kindly.
Pete is an incredible team member—aside from a few minor incidents, and he’s been a steady, easygoing presence in the harness. But what many don’t see is just how sensitive and loving he truly is. If his buddies go to work without him or he finds himself alone in the barn, Pete quickly becomes a nervous wreck. He’s a big softie at heart who just wants to be part of the action.
All of our horses here at Trot in Time see a vet at least once per year for an annual physical (we also call a vet out in the event of sickness, unexplained lameness, etc). This year, when our new vet came for our annual checkups, we mentioned something we’d noticed—Pete’s eye seemed a bit extra runny. We figured it might be allergies or a touch of spring irritation, but wanted to see if it might be something more.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be something much more serious. The vet discovered cancer in his third eyelids.
(Did you know horses even have third eyelids?! The third eyelid in a horse is a specialized, mobile, protective structure located in the inner corner of the eye, between the cornea and the lower eyelid. It acts as a rapid shield, sweeping across the eye to remove dust or debris and protect it from trauma. Pretty amazing!)
The type of cancer is likely squamous cell carcinoma, a form of eye cancer that Belgian horses are genetically more prone to than many other breeds.
This morning, Pete underwent surgery to remove both of his third eyelids, where the early signs of cancer were located. The procedure went well, and he’s now recovering comfortably at the farm. We’re hopeful that this early intervention gives him the best shot at staying healthy, although the vet did mention that finding cancerous activity in both eyes is concerning and could indicate further spread.
We’re sharing Pete’s story not only because he’s a cherished member of our Trot in Time team, but also to raise awareness. Eye cancer in horses can be subtle and easy to miss.
We’ll keep you posted on Pete’s recovery and, as always, thank you for your kindness, support, and love for our gentle giants.
