Blind horse Milo to compete to become dressage champion after learning equine form of Braille after losing eyesight

A BLIND horse is set to compete to become a dressage champion after learning a form of equine “braille”. Milo, an Appaloosa, ­was withdrawn from the sport after losing his vision to an eye infection in 2023. Milo the blind horse is set to compete to become a dressage champion Credit: SWNS Appaloosa Milo has learned to use the horse equivalent of braille Credit: SWNS But the 15-year-old gelding returned to competition last year and won at the Royal Windsor Show for the eighth time. He won other events this year too, after learning how to use a combination of touch, hearing and rider cues to navigate. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Owner Megan Share, 28, says Milo uses the feel of the ground beneath his hooves to help understand what is around him. She is now preparing him for the Horse of the Year Show and the London International Horse Show later this year. Riding school owner Megan, from Kidderminster, Worcs, said: “He interprets my pressure on him, but he also uses his own pressure of his hooves on the ground for his spatial awareness. “He’s using his hearing and feel of touch with his feet to feel along the ground. It is like a braille technique. “He’s also a lot more alert and he reacts quicker as his sense of hearing is elevated as a result of him losing his sight.” Megan says Milo is “just amazing” and has not let ­blindness stop him being a world-class dressage competitor. Most read in Sport Owner Megan says Milo uses the feel of the ground beneath his hooves to help understand what is around him Credit: SWNS Megan says Milo is ‘just amazing’ and has not let ­blindness stop him being a world-class dressage competitor Credit: SWNS She said: “I’m extremely proud of him. “There can’t be any other blind horses competing at this level in the world.” Comment now