Have you had an accident when away from the yard?

[ProductsEditor]

No, this isn't really one of those "no win, no fee" lawyer adverts.

Have you ever had to administer first aid to your horse while you've been away at a show or event? If so, H&H wants to hear from you for a forthcoming feature. We're looking for recent (ie 2003 onwards) stories of what happened, how you coped, what first aid you applied and what first aid products you take with you in the horsebox.

Thanks

 

[Dovorian]

Products Editor of what publication please?

 

[ProductsEditor]

An email address is always handy:

victoria_gray@ipcmedia.com

 

[HHO admin]

Horse & Hound

 

[Sparklet]

I had an accident when my horse split her pastern during a dressage test (an old injury site which was caught with the opposite foot). She bled quite a lot but fortunatley I always have first aid stuff in the lorry and applied animalintex, cotton wool and vetwrap.

A related topic was when my daughter was knocked down the ramp by a panicking horse - split her head open, blood everywhere, broke her teeth. I ran down the ramp with the human first aid kit - spotted how much blood there was, threw it to a side and grabbed the horse one.

 

[Santa_Claus]

In about 2002/2003 (not really that sure!) at a PC ODE horse pulled up lame infront whilst on XC . Wasn't sure at time what injury was as thought may have been possible torn tendon at worst but more likely strained tendon etc. Led slowly back to Lorry as still weight bearing although obviously not right and treated with ice cold gel, gamgee and bandages which I always keep on board the lorry (in addition to basic first aid kit including poultices etc which never leaves lorry as then I can't forget it!).

After intial phone discussion with vet as to whether immediate visit necessary (decided box rest to allow inflammation to go down first port of call) then followup visit confirmed horse had only a knocked a very small splint that had been forming so a lot of hosing later (had started hosing on arrival home same day) and horse was thankfully fine except for still being the biggest wimp on the planet!

Katie

 

[archoak]

My son's mare fell in our trailer coming home from a show last year. We unloaded her onto a roudabout as she had deep cuts to two legs. We just kept pouring cold water onto them to keep the cuts clean, phoned the police and our vet who came straight away. The police stopped the traffic and we were able to lead her to a petrol station and onto a grassy area where our vet sedated her. He then nerve blocked one of her front legs to check the tendon sheath fluid which was luckily clear, he then stitched her cuts and after another 3 doses of sedative we literally lifted her back into our trailer. The journey home was awful as she still sounded as if she was going to fall again! She made a full recovery after two weeks, but we sold the trailer and bought a lorry and she now travels with no problem - we keep a huge first aid kit in it though!

 

[ProductsEditor]

Many thanks to those who have replied or have emailed about this subject. I'm still looking for a few more case studies this week, so if your horse has suffered an injury while away from the yard, no matter if it's minor, please do get in touch by email: victoria_gray@ipcmedia.com.

Thanks

 

[airedale]

Not my horse but at a show (luckily at an equestrian centre) a horse was being loaded into a trailer and was very reluctant to go in. There was limited parking so there were cars too close behind the trailer. The horse kicked out continuously and eventually shed the back travelling boots and by that time there was everyone and their aunt sally trying to force this horse into the trailer - giving it no time to think - just shear brute force job - OTT in my opinion as they'd only been trying to box it for about 25 mins up till that point

anyway - horse kicked out and got the headlight of a parked car and severely gashed a hind leg.

Yard called the vet and helped - horse had to be put down due to severed tendon.