Unusual Wound on Horse's Back

charlyan

charlyan

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Hi all, I haven't posted on here for a wee while but would like some opinions on this wound that I discovered on my horse's back on Friday evening.....

It is a single, clean edged (superficial) cut across his spine, right on the saddle- about a hands width behind his wither. A raised welt continued down about 10cm beyond the cut. It is bruised and sore to the touch, even now- two days later, although the swelling has subsided. There are no other scuffs or marks on him.

He's 15.2 and shares his field with a 34" Shetland pony companion and there are no trees or over reaching branches/ shrubs in or around his field. It's an unusual place for a horse to injure themselves whilst rolling or playing...if it had been on a leg- I would have said he'd caught it in a fence but there is nothing at that height he could have done it on. I'm concerned that it has been "done" to him but would just like opinions as to whether anyone has seen any similar injuries before.... :(



 
I have never seen it happen but could he have cast himself against the fence whilst rolling? It's a nicer option to consider rather than malice :/
 
Can see why you are concerned, but it doesn't look like a knife injury - more like a scrape.
Might sound daft, but could the shettie have climbed over him while he was lying down?
Just seen already suggested!
 
Thanks for the replies- I suppose he may have cast himself against the fence whilst rolling... not sure if the Shetland could have done it climbing over him as it is a very clean, straight mark but anything is possible! He sometimes plays with a horse in the field next door so possibly it's been a grab mark but it doesn't look like any I have seen before hence my concern. I was worried that it could have been a lash mark as it is so clean but I'd rather consider any other possibility!
 
My shetland has had an injury very similar to this. Really it looks almost identical, however it was my bigger mare that did it to her by biting her.
 
My money is on the Shetland, my 39inch often stands up and throws punches at my 16.1hh. I thought the big boy had a rash the other day, turned out the little darling was nipping him through his grazing muzzle! They are opportunists and will take their "revenge" when they can :)
 
Sven said:
My money is on the Shetland, my 39inch often stands up and throws punches at my 16.1hh. I thought the big boy had a rash the other day, turned out the little darling was nipping him through his grazing muzzle! They are opportunists and will take their "revenge" when they can :)
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Haha they are little sods when they want to be- i don't think they realise that they are not full size horses compared to the others :)
Thanks for the replies- I do feel a lot more reassured :)
 
I also think it looks like a scrape. Too superficial to have been a cut with a knife. I'd be suprised if someone with malicious intent would do something so superficial, so more likely he has done it to himself! Perhaps even rolled on a sharp stone/flint?
 
Thanks- I think I go into overprotective, neurotic mummy mode at times :) He's ok and that is the main thing. I'm so used to bumps and scrapes on legs, rumps and even the odd bump on his head but I'd never seen one on the saddle before so was worried.

I suspect it is his latest "Get out of work for free" scheme :D
 
It doesn't look unusual to me either. Our horses often have scratches like that, generally from another horse in an adjoining field playing silly beggars over the fence and having their teeth scratch along the horse's back.
 
My pony has got one exactly like that under his withers. He's a twit and prob got bitten or kicked by his field mate ;-)
 
Evie91 said:
I also think it looks like a scrape. Too superficial to have been a cut with a knife. I'd be suprised if someone with malicious intent would do something so superficial, so more likely he has done it to himself! Perhaps even rolled on a sharp stone/flint?
Click to expand...

this was what I was thinking
 
A friend's gelding had an almost identical cut and same area. Other friend's cob got the blame but we've always suspected that he'd rolled on a stone. Nothing would convince her that it could have been an accident.
 
These marks are usually tooth scrapes I stood and watched the boys doing this to each other they are always mucking about .
 
Anyone who has stallions and colts will have seen this, also occasionally mares. It looks like a typical horse-on-horse bite to me. Size doedn't matter.

If I hadn't just come in I'd go down and take a photograph, then say 'snap'!
 
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