Photo credit: Our wonderful vet, Celina, captured this during a recent outcall.

Horse injuries have a knack for happening at the worst times — if there’s a sharp object in the paddock, horses seem determined to find it! If your horse sustains a wound, here’s what you can do straight away while waiting for the vet:

1. Make the area safe
   Remove any nearby hazards if it’s safe to do so, and move your horse to a secure, flat, well-lit area to make assessment and treatment easier.
2. Take photos
   Clear photos of the wound can be very helpful for the vet and provide a useful baseline.
3. Check the injury
   Look at the wound depth and location. Is your horse lame or reluctant to bear weight if it’s on a limb? This information is important to relay to the clinic.
4. Gently hose
   Rinse the wound with clean cold water for up to 10 minutes to remove debris. Longer hosing can increase swelling. Don’t be tempted to clean with a disinfectant (such as chlorhexidine, iodine or Dettol) – this can actually burn tissue and delay healing in some cases.
5. Apply a dressing if needed
   If the vet will be more than 30 minutes away or bleeding is significant, apply a bandage:Start with a thick absorbent layer (e.g. cotton wool or padding).

• Avoid creams unless advised — especially products for proud flesh or granulation tissue (eg. Tuff rock or yellow lotion).
• Add a firm outer layer (such as cohesive bandage or vetrap) to help control bleeding.
• Make sure the outer layer doesn’t touch skin — padding should extend past the edges.
• If the bandage must stay on more than a few hours, secure it with a protective top layer such as Elastoplast. This can touch the skin and should extend above and below the dressing to help keep it in place.

6. Know your horse’s tetanus status. The vet will need to know this information so make sure you know when their last tetanus vaccination was.
7.  Keep your horse confined in a stable or small yard (or calmly held) until the vet arrives.

Prompt first aid can make a big difference to healing and outcomes — and when in doubt, always call for advice.