In the event of an injury to your horse it is important to remain calm and be a settling influence on your horse and not allow your own emotions to escalate. Horses are a herd animal and will take their cues from the animals around them, (including their owners), and it is very much part of a horse’s nature to flee from danger. Remaining calm is ESSENTIAL to reassure the horse and enable safe handling of a horse that may be injured, frightened, or distressed.
Restrain the injured horse in a suitable headcollar if it is safe to do so, and if possible move them to a safe handling area such as a small yard, wash bay or stable. Horses that are unable to move or are behaving in a dangerous, erratic manner should be left alone, enclosed where possible, and monitored until veterinary assistance arrives.
Excessive bleeding can be stopped by applying pressure to a wound or by bandaging firmly if possible.
Large wounds or wounds involving vital structures such as a joint can be hosed or bathed with clean water or a dilute antiseptic solution if the horse will allow. Veterinary advice should be sought immediately as even a small wound over a joint may become life threatening.
Minor wounds may be treated by cleaning with dilute antiseptic solution, applying wound creams and/or a bandage. The horse’s vaccination status should be discovered, and a tetanus booster or tetanus anti-toxin administered if required.
Horses displaying symptoms of colic such as pawing, rolling, looking around at their abdomen, and sweating or trembling can be hand-walked in a purposeful manner until veterinary assistance arrived, as sometimes this helps distract the horse from pain.
Eye injuries should be seen immediately by a vet and it is important that no medications are administered to the injured eye without veterinary advice.