Help!

[archoak]

We have had our new horse about 6 weeks now, he is a 6 yr old ISH. He is everything you could wish for and we are thrilled with him. However, nearly every morning he comes in from the field he has acquired a new injury

Just minor scrapes and cuts including a rub on sunday from pulling his own boot off (he went into a new field the day before). He's turned out in no boots now but a new horse goes into the field tonight, don't know what to do for the best.

 

[cazzr]

Having an accident prone horse myself, my advice would be to keep him booted up whenever you change fields or introduce new fieldmates. That way if anything happens then you did your best and won't be faced with the 'what if's' following an accident.

My horse recently got her leg caught on a fence 3 days after changing fields and had to have her tendon sheath flushed as a result. She was wearing boots and I asked the vet if this maybe had caused more harm than good because the boot would have got caught whereas maybe a leg might not have. She confirmed to me that had she not been wearing boots that things would have been much worse.

This was enough of a reassurance that i wasn't going 'over the top'....
As for the rubbing, maybe try some different boots. Also make sure they are clean as build up of sweat/grime can cause rubs. It could be that he only pulled the boot off because of high jinks from moving fields.
It's tricky at this time of year as it is so hot but when the horses are settled you can maybe think about taking the boots off again..

Good luck I know it can be hard to decide what to do for the better.
Caz
p.s. i keep a constant supply of Aloe Vera gel in my grooming box because of my darling horsee.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Yo Applechaff - simple solution - take half a mile of industrial strength bubble wrap and wrap your entire horse in it. Then lay him/her flat in deep shavings in a padded stable. Then carefully lower yourself to your knees and offer up a prayer or two. With luck, when you return, your horse may NOT have injured itself!!!!! No guarantees though!!!!

 

[archoak]

He'd eat the bubblewrap

 

[archoak]

Have already bought 2 different sets of boots, one supposed to be breathable and I hose them off and dry them before I put them back on again. If he gets hot he just bites them until they come off. Thinking of buying some equi chap type ones - however my friends daughters horse was kicked and had to be pts despite wearing these - nothing is foolproof