Overreach injury...?

[Darraxi]

Hi all; got horse from the field yesterday only to find he had managed to slice half the skin off a front heel. The photo is of after I (to some protest) cleaned it up with a weak apple cider vinegar/water mix and cotton wool, but you can see the white skin flap and wound underneath, the brown area which should have skin, some cuts and swelling to the pastern, plus minor injury also to the right heel bulb (not visible on photo).



Initially I was thinking perhaps he had stepped in/on something or got caught in a fence; he isn't shod and since the pastern and both heel bulbs all have injury, I hadn't envisioned it being possible to have done so much damage from an overreach. The more I've looked at photos of other overreach injuries however it's seeming more likely that's what's happened (he does tend to have a morning charge about the field); any thoughts?

Would also be good to have some tips on what people would be likely to do to clear it up/prevent infections; I had considered a mild Epsom salt soak but that seemed likely to sting (attempted to soak it in just water as we don't have a hose but even that seemed to sting). As I said, I just cleaned it with ACV/water and am leaving him to it in the field for a few days in hopes it heals itself.

Thanks

 

[Goldenstar]

You need to remove the loose flaps with scissors and wash the area with hibiscrub and water I would then spray it with blue spray or silver spray .
You need to keep an eye on it as it may need antibiotics from the vet
Assuming the field is not wet I would try to keep him out but it is going to need keeping a close eye on .

 

[Melody Grey]

An overreach would be a
Logical explanation, but it seems a lot of damage to have done to himself if he’s barefoot. Is he turned out with any other horses who could have stepped on his heel messing about?

 

[Darraxi]

You need to remove the loose flaps with scissors and wash the area with hibiscrub and water I would then spray it with blue spray or silver spray .
You need to keep an eye on it as it may need antibiotics from the vet
Assuming the field is not wet I would try to keep him out but it is going to need keeping a close eye on .

Can I ask the reasoning behind removing the flaps? I left them with the thought of offering some kind of protection, but I suppose they could also protect bacteria and give them a place to grow? And can Hibiscrub be used on an open wound?

An overreach would be a
Logical explanation, but it seems a lot of damage to have done to himself if he’s barefoot. Is he turned out with any other horses who could have stepped on his heel messing about?

I agree, but he is a bit special haha; the other horses are 3 older mares who on the whole tend to ignore his hoolies and I'd find it very unlikely for them to catch a front foot, it could be a possibility though as they are all shod.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Hibiscrub is the best thing to use on an open wound for the first, and possibly second cleaning. After that it is too abrasive so salt water is best from day 3.

Its defos an over reach- even barefoot a horse can do a lot of damage. I would also take as much of the excess skin off as possible and then use blue spray - Teramycin - you cant buy it over the counter but you can get it from the vet.

 

[Goldenstar]

The flaps will have lost blood supply without pressure bandaging there’s no way they will heal .