Horse kicking/ injuring themselves?

[HufflyPuffly]

Beryl is my baby four year old, not always that in control of her legs and has a slightly sticky stifle on her left hind but otherwise totally normal baby horse.

She is consistently injuring/ cutting the inside of her back legs, particularly her right hind.

She came to me with some scarring on the inside of her hind legs (white so all blends in). But not really seen any cuts in a consistent manner until we moved yards two months ago.

A few weeks back horses broke into her paddock and she had lots of cuts on her hind legs but more to the inside, I assumed it was all a bit handbags at dawn with the other horses and none were more than superficial cuts, these all healed well after the incident. Then she decided to drag some stock fencing out from behind a fence last week, and tangle in it, found more cuts on her so assumed from that incident, I wasn’t actually there and fencing had been moved back and Beryl detangled before I got there. However, I found a new cut this morning! She’s back in a paddock with nothing to get caught or tangled on, plus it doesn’t seem the right place for a kick off another horse?

Could these be self inflicted and how to stop if they are? I’ve not seen anything similar? Top cut is the latest injury, in a safe paddock, nothing to injury herself on, only turned out with my other horses.



Debating looking bonkers and putting overreach boots on behind my barefoot pony .

Naughty nose of the horse in question.

 

[SEL]

Could she be kicking at flies? Mine have been doing that all summer

 

[SpotsandBays]

Could she be kicking at flies? Mine have been doing that all summer

My thoughts too. Midges have been awful this year

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I haven’t really seen her do it, but a possibility . Could smother in cream and see if that helps!

 

[paddy555]

Could she be kicking at flies? Mine have been doing that all summer

I would put a fly rug on if you haven't already.

One of mine (and me) have had the day from hell due to a crab fly. He has kicked and kicked and kicked. Could have done any of those injuries and probably has. It doesn't take much for some to get very very upset with flies.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Less flies here than the last yard, and no big nasties unlike the previous one. But worth a shot, though the last cut occurred when wearing a lightweight turnout (heavy rain day and night). She’s out 24/7 currently.

 

[I'm Dun]

Could it be that the others are healing and itchy and shes trying to scratch at them and catching herself?

 

[Barton Bounty]

I would put fly boots on her and try and see if that helps , they are brilliant, mesh and breathable

 

[Squeak]

I've had problems this year with a horse catching the inside of his fetlock because of flies and the fly boots really helped, the fly rug wasn't enough as it didn't stop the flies from getting on his legs.

I also had a four year old who was injuring herself on the inside of her legs, albeit not quite so high up. I mentioned it to the farrier and he shod her slightly differently so there was less on the inside for her to catch herself with. I think I also went for turnout boots or a sausage boot for a while too although neither of those would help with the ones higher up.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Thanks all for your ideas, might try boots or at least overreach boots to start and see what happens.

 

[SEL]

My old gelding used to get those tiny little black flies on his sheath and would catch himself kicking at them. Fly rug did nothing for those.

It feels like a bad year for flies!

Thanks all for your ideas, might try boots or at least overreach boots to start and see what happe

 

[poiuytrewq]

Could she be kicking at flies? Mine have been doing that all summer

This is what I was going to say, I have an old
Pony who is more scab than not between his hinds.
It will stop now though, when the clues disappear.

 

[Fielder]

Please be really careful with any deep scars around joints (seems to be around the tendon sheath) , if infection gets into the joint capsule is can become quickly very serious and theres not much that can be done once infection gets in the capsule - Id get that flushed by a vet personally

edit : spelling

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Nothing constructive to add but my 3yo has somehow got flaps of hoof/sliced the outside of both his hind hooves... The mysteries of youngsters hey.

 

[Birker2020]

Do mare's not need cleaning around their teats??? I'm sure my friend said that they can get a bit dirty and smelly, so I wonder if it is that aggravating her.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Nothing constructive to add but my 3yo has somehow got flaps of hoof/sliced the outside of both his hind hooves... The mysteries of youngsters hey.

Baby horses are masters of choas and unexplained things!