Accident - Any Advice?

[Puzzles]

The most sensible horse on the yard A couple of nights ago the horse I ride managed to try to jump a wall, and ended up straddling it. One of her hind legs is an utter mess and it looks awful - it took the vet 2 hours to bandage her up (she isn't the easiest or quietest horse to handle as it is). He thought she might have chipped a bone as she was very lame. We have no stable in which to box rest her, and she finds being stabled highly stressful anyway, so she is turned out as normal, albeit 'buted up. She seems to be able to bear weight on the leg and there was no swelling when the bandage was last changed, but as I said it does look a mess and we think there will be some scarring (the least of our worries!)

Has anyone ever had a similar experience or can give any advice, and what was the outcome? I'm really worried about ehr and while her owner thinks she'll eventually recover fully, I would like to know more about this type of injury and the long term effects. I love this horse to bits and hate the idea of her being in pain.

 

[CBFan]

I think, although it might take a little longer to fully heal, the movement will do her good...

It's hard to know what to advise without knowing the exact details of the injury (photos would be helpful)... several people on here have experienced pretty horriffic injuries with their neds so I'm sure there will be a wealth of advice...

Years ago I helped look after a mare who tore her chest open on a barbed wire fence (horiffic)... all we did was bathe it initially and then apply sulphur powder to the wound to prevent proud flesh... today you wouldn't see the scar unless you knew it was there.

you might want to consider feeding her some arnica to heal any bruising and consider other homeopathic remedies to aid healing...

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Maesfen]

As above and also make sure she is on a good diet to aid healing, so even think about putting her on a balancer, even Lo Cal, or perhaps Pink Powder and a handful of damp chaff if she doesn't normally have anything; they will help a lot.
Can you post pic's?

 

[dany]

I was advised to run water gently onto the wound every day to wash away any dead cells and debris. Also to avoid touching / rubbing or anything that could interupt or damage the granulation tiscue as it starts to heal.

I managed to import some anti bac cream from america (its not sold here?) or ask the vet for some flamazine to gently dabb on.

 

[Puzzles]

Thank you all for the advice and comforting words. Horses seem to have a way of scaring the life out of you! She's about 14 years old (she was bought from a dealer so we don't know for sure) and she was already having minor problems with stiffness and discomfort with some movements, so I hope this won't exacerbate those problems (which haven't been checked out by the vet yet).
I will definitely look out some arnica cream. She is currently on plenty of good grass (as in, sheep's grazing) 2 scoops Build Up cubes, 1 scoop barley rings, 1 scoop unmolassed sugarbeet, 1 scoop molassed chaff, vegetable oil, salt and a vitamin & mineral supplement, so it is balanced. She eats well but is a poor doer. Do you think the protein in the Build Up cubes will significantly help the tissue in her leg to heal faster/better? She will probably be weaned off the barley rings now (despite being a TB cross she has a fairly level temperament) as she won't be in work for several weeks at least ...
Her field is on a slight slope so hopefully this will help her leg to strengthen up - or do you think it will strain it too much?
Does anyone also have any tips for keeping a leg bandage dry (bloody weather!)?

Thanks again, I appreciate it.

 

[soulfull]

sounds like you are doing everything right so try not to worry too much. I know that is so easy to say. But horses are tougher than we think and recover from some horrible injuries. If she was already getting a little stiff it won't hurt to give her a joint supplement that will help both the old and the new problem and is what I would do