Advice about rope burn

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Liz111

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Hi, I found my mare yesterday morning with a cut on her leg which I think is a rope burn, as part of her rope fencing was broken and in middle of her field. I've cleaned it up with vet hibiscrub, applied some wound cream and bandaged it. Don't know when to remove bandage though to let the air get to it. Should I keep it bandaged? Also, she is very over dramatic and if I so much as look at her hind leg she kicks out so any ideas how to get close enough to change dressing/take bandage off? I'm fairly new to owning my own horse and this is the first injury I have had to deal with. Thanks in advance for any advice
 
I think you need to ring your vet for advice. More experienced horse-owners might well be able to deal with this without vet intervention but in your position, you need advice from some-one who can see the wound of necessary.

Was it electric rope?
 
Agree with the above. You've done the right thing to clean it, however getting the vet to have a look is a very good idea, and they'll be able to tell you whether or not to remove the bandage, depending on how deep it is, and if they're any foreign bodies in there. Also echo Pearlsasinger's question - was it electric?
 
Liz111 said:
Thank you for the advice. Yes it was electric but not live.
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As you now know, that is very dangerous. Electric rope, in particular, should always be connected to a battery, tape isn't quite so bad but it can still cause a nasty wound if a horse gets tangled up.

Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
As you now know, that is very dangerous. Electric rope, in particular, should always be connected to a battery, tape isn't quite so bad but it can still cause a nasty wound if a horse gets tangled up.

Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
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Have to agree with this, it does not break and you are lucky its just rope burn and not a broken leg. Mine had a battery energiser on it for a small pony proof paddock. Woke up to pony with 3 wooden fence post and rope wrapped around ponies legs. He had snapped the wooden fence posts but not the rope, It now has 7+k mains electric three strands and all would not go anywhere near it.
 
I definitely know now... The youngster in field behind my mare not so lucky, he has sliced through suspensory ligament by same type of rope. Yard manager needs to sort the paddocks out I'm thinking!
Thanks for your help guys, much appreciated
 
Liz111 said:
I definitely know now... The youngster in field behind my mare not so lucky, he has sliced through suspensory ligament by same type of rope. Yard manager needs to sort the paddocks out I'm thinking!
Thanks for your help guys, much appreciated
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Oh how awful, poor boy. I'm assuming the vet will be coming & going regularly to the yard for a good while, so perhaps you could ask them to have a look at your mare too, when they're next there. Would definitely speak to your YM - their fencing doesn't sound particularly safe.
 
A rope burn is the same as a burn burn, it can take a while to heal up. My horse did it with a headcollar rope round his pastern, it didn't break the skin, but he was sore for quite a time, about a month I think. With any sort of burn you have to watch for infection. The vet will be able to recommend a wound cream.
 
My mare did exactly the same thing, burnt the back of her front leg when deciding to rip a bit of her fencing!
I cleaned it and put some manuka honey on, my vet was due the next day anyway and said to just leave it open, as long as it's clean (we have no mud, etc) to leave it and let the air dry it, to then just keep applying manuka honey, I didn't ride her until it was completely healed because it opened up on trot up and made her uncomfortable. It's healed now 2 weeks later and she's completely fine :)
 
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