Boodle
Well-Known Member
Went to ride Pally today, he lives about 3 miles from me. Got there, sis left me at the field gate and went home as usual, so i headed off across the field, singing and humming my heart out because it is a glorious day.
Got to about 20 metres of him and immediately knew something wasn't right.
Ran the rest of it, and he's alternately resting back legs, get close to him and there's blood dried over his white socks on both back legs turning them red/brown flies absolutely all over them, and he has cuts all down his back legs.
Almost mild panic, but instead get lead rope on him and ask him to walk on,w hich he does, slowly and stiffly. Off hind is alot worse than near hind, as near hind isnt that swollen at all but off hind is like a balloon. Managed to walk him to the gate and tie him up, by this time the swelling has actually gone down abit just with walking over the field.
Get mobile and phone home.. no answer. Trysister;s mobile.. no answer. Eventually get hold of Mum and Dad who were in town and asked them to come to Pally's home with antiseptic wash, cream, sponges, fly repellent etc etc.
So, as there's no nearby hose or horsey first aid kits (don't ask... his owners are non-horsey- no comments on this either please).
Anyway, manage to get the cold water from the water trough and find an old builders bucket. Clean it out and pour it on his legs, trying to scrub off the blood with my fingers so I can see the extent of it.
After about 15 minutes Mum arrives with all the stuff, and after me soaking his leg in a bucket of cold water the swelling has decreased again.
Looks alot better than it did and far less serious. His heel/fetlock on his off fore are very cut up but it appears very superficial and his cuts on his legs (all below the hock) are actually quite few (maybe 3 or so on either leg). And also not deep.
Phoned vet then and asked him if he should come out.. he asked alot of questions and said to phone him later tonight and update him on how P is, otherwise, he'll justy come out tomorrow morning as Pally was by this time actually walking sound.
So, absolutely smothered it in antiseptic cream, and then over the top of this special fly repellent antiseptic cream we'd got from the vet a few weeks prior for Rocco.
After all this Pally is FAR happier, swelling has decreased dramatically, and there are no flies in or around the cuts and none are too deep.
How did he do it? I dont know.
Only thing I can come up with is he got something wrapped around his leg/legs caught in fence. Which is worrying but I walked the perimeter and as much as I could of the field (its huge!) and could not find anything or any evidence of anything.
Going up to check him again in an hour but he seemed better when I went to see him 2nd time about an hour ago. Alot happier, and grazing with Bill.
Absolutely gutted tho, seems I can't keep any horses free of injury
.
And most definitely not nice to see his legs all sliced up like that.
Looking back I know I couldn've done alot of things differently/better but was in abit of a state as I thought he was still bleeding and losing blood (which he wasnt) and he just looked so bad, probably alot due to the flies driving him bonkers.
I'll keep you updated on him.
Got to about 20 metres of him and immediately knew something wasn't right.
Ran the rest of it, and he's alternately resting back legs, get close to him and there's blood dried over his white socks on both back legs turning them red/brown flies absolutely all over them, and he has cuts all down his back legs.
Almost mild panic, but instead get lead rope on him and ask him to walk on,w hich he does, slowly and stiffly. Off hind is alot worse than near hind, as near hind isnt that swollen at all but off hind is like a balloon. Managed to walk him to the gate and tie him up, by this time the swelling has actually gone down abit just with walking over the field.
Get mobile and phone home.. no answer. Trysister;s mobile.. no answer. Eventually get hold of Mum and Dad who were in town and asked them to come to Pally's home with antiseptic wash, cream, sponges, fly repellent etc etc.
So, as there's no nearby hose or horsey first aid kits (don't ask... his owners are non-horsey- no comments on this either please).
Anyway, manage to get the cold water from the water trough and find an old builders bucket. Clean it out and pour it on his legs, trying to scrub off the blood with my fingers so I can see the extent of it.
After about 15 minutes Mum arrives with all the stuff, and after me soaking his leg in a bucket of cold water the swelling has decreased again.
Looks alot better than it did and far less serious. His heel/fetlock on his off fore are very cut up but it appears very superficial and his cuts on his legs (all below the hock) are actually quite few (maybe 3 or so on either leg). And also not deep.
Phoned vet then and asked him if he should come out.. he asked alot of questions and said to phone him later tonight and update him on how P is, otherwise, he'll justy come out tomorrow morning as Pally was by this time actually walking sound.
So, absolutely smothered it in antiseptic cream, and then over the top of this special fly repellent antiseptic cream we'd got from the vet a few weeks prior for Rocco.
After all this Pally is FAR happier, swelling has decreased dramatically, and there are no flies in or around the cuts and none are too deep.
How did he do it? I dont know.
Only thing I can come up with is he got something wrapped around his leg/legs caught in fence. Which is worrying but I walked the perimeter and as much as I could of the field (its huge!) and could not find anything or any evidence of anything.
Going up to check him again in an hour but he seemed better when I went to see him 2nd time about an hour ago. Alot happier, and grazing with Bill.
Absolutely gutted tho, seems I can't keep any horses free of injury
And most definitely not nice to see his legs all sliced up like that.
Looking back I know I couldn've done alot of things differently/better but was in abit of a state as I thought he was still bleeding and losing blood (which he wasnt) and he just looked so bad, probably alot due to the flies driving him bonkers.
I'll keep you updated on him.
