Annoying, Minor Injuries in Your Horse

Here is some information that can help you determine if an injury is minor in your horse.

A fact of life, if you own a horse you will already know, horses will get scratches, bumps, bruises, kicks, and strains. Not all of these will be serious but suitable, prompt action is necessary to keep a minor injury from becoming a big problem. It will not only minimize the discomfort for your horse it will get you back in the saddle more quickly.

Minor injuries are usually a cut or scrape, a muscle strain, a kick from another horse, a stone bruise, or an accident with an immobile object, or ingesting harmful vegetation. Things that help identify a minor injury are listed below:

· It comes on suddenly. Usually it is caused by an accident, not poor conformation or performance related.

· It will improve quickly. Most horses get over a minor injury fast. Strains and bruises may be painful for the horse at first but with time and proper care steady improvement will be seen over a relatively short period of time. This is not true with serious injuries.

· Outward signs are usually minimal. No freely bleeding wound or endangered vital structure (such as a joint).

· It will usually be inflamed. There will be swelling in the area, pain and heat. This is not how the body protects an injured area. This is how the body lets you know there is a problem. The inflammation can be what is causing the horse’s discomfort.

· A minor injury gets steadily better with limited work. Hand walking can work wonders.

If your horse is hurt you usually want to stop using him immediately. If the injury is serious that is best. If it is minor some limited, light activity can be the best medicine. Inflammation and heat are the way the horse’s body protects itself and will be present if the injury is minor or serious. After proper treatment the pain and swelling, along with heat in the injured area will begin to subside.

Skimbleshanks