Barbed Wire

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Out hacking this morning before work, going down a bridleway across a golf course with a very badly maintained fence and poor horse put his foot through barbed wire hidden in long grass. Panic, ran backwards dragging it wrapped around front feet but luckily wedged his bum in the tree behind us so stopped. I jumped off and managed to lead him forwards with my foot on the wire to keep it down and THANK GOD he walked quietly forwards and was free. It started bleeding so i took him home (10 mins).Clipped and Hibiscrubbed his front legs. All the wounds i could find had bled . His near fore has a slight graze across front of pastern and a shallow puncture at the back of his tendon about half way down cannon bone. His off fore has mulitple little punctures all around pastern with 2 small rips or tears abouut 1/4 " long, very small nicks across back of tendon again. Nothing is deep and none were continuing to bleed so i have put hydrogel on with gamgee over the top and will check him at lunchtime ( HAD to go to work this morning) to see if he needs the vet. His tetanus was done in June and the wire was old galvanised not too rusty. Needlees to say OH has had a major go at the coucil( OH yes we know about it-- AArrgggh if you know its in a dangerous state why not do something FFS) and the golf course. Any thoughts or tips? will not hesitate to call the vet if he needs it as the council has offered to settle any insurance claim...

 

[Blizzard]

Are you a member of your local bridleways club? Even if not Im sure they would love to here about it, and they might have a bit more leverage to get something done about it!
It sounds like your hose was lucky!

 

[debradley]

OMG nightmare he must have wondered what the hell had got hold of him. Glad he doesn't seem too badly injured and hope he's ok when you go to see him tonight.

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Vet has confirmed that his tetanus jab will cover him and we have done the right thing to bandage him up and turn him out ( he is very quiet in the field) as swelling can be terrible if they have to be kept in. The bigger tears are ok its the punctures that we have to watch carefully. Fingers crossed that he wont have too much swelling or heat tomorrow or he will have to have antibiotics.

 

[ecrozier]

THis happened to me a few years ago, cuts healed fine, only thing we noticed was that in trying to pull himself free he had obviously tugged a muscle in his stifle (back leg caught). He was fine tho after a couple of weeks not doing too much!
Glad you were lucky too, could have been much worse!

 

[sueandtoto]

Ouch !! poor horse

hope he's ok when you check him tonight x

 

[pottamus]

Sorry to hear about your horse but have you been back to the bridleway and moved the wire out of the way so others do not have the same accident...yes I know it is a council issue...but might be an idea as the council will take an age to sort it and it could at least be made safer by someone kind and obliging.......

 

[catembi]

Thank goodness your horse is okay. Cat had a run in with barbed wire once & ended up with a nicked artery, severed nerve & £5,500 vet bill...

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Yes we went back last night, photographed the state of the fence and then pushed it back into the hedge but this bridleway is 1 mile long so there is a lot of it!
He is much better this morning , all the cuts bar one have started to seal with no sign of swelling or heat . I will poultice the heel tonight to get the muck out of the nick that is slightly yucky. Think we were VERY lucky to get off so lightly

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Just got this email from the council byways officer:

Thank you for your email. I was sorry to hear about the injuries your horse sustained when using the bridleway. I hope he makes a full recovery.

I will contact the landowner and make sure that the fencing is removed from the bridleway as soon as possible. We at the County Council do not own or maintain the fencing that runs alongside the bridleway. This is the responsibility of the landowner. I will let you know what progress I make.

In the mean time if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.