1. 134 - maintain the health of horses

2. Aims Objectives To be able to treat a horse’s wounds
To know how to check a horse for injury
Identify possible sites of injury on the horse
Identify different types of injuries
Outline the care for each type of injury

3. Checking a horse for injury
Be safe
Be methodical
Use the flat of your hand
Compare like for like

4. Common sites of injury
Horses can gain an injury anywhere on their body. Caused by themselves, other horses or objects in their environment.
Face
Neck
Forearm
Hocks
knee
Cannon bone
Fetlock joints
Heels and coronets

5. Task one
Make a list of injuries that a horse could sustain.

6. Types of wound Contused wound Treatment? E.g. Bruises & sprains
Usually internal bleeding without breaking the skin
Leads to swelling, heat and pain.
Treatment?
Cold …………..
Ice ……………
Sometimes combination of
h… and c…….. treatment

7. Types of wound Incised Wounds Treatment Clean straight edges
Bleed freely
Normally heal quickly
Treatment
May need to call
the ……… to s…………..
the wound
Keep wound c………
and dry

8. Types of wound Abrasion wounds Treatment
Very superficial skin wounds, e.g. Saddle sores/ grazes from falling
When they occur on the
Knees they are referred to
as Broken knees
Treatment
Must be cleaned th………. to
remove grit from the wound
Skin should be kept moist
Allow a good period of time
For healing

9. Types of wound Laceration wounds Treatment
Torn edges & irregular shape, with some bruising
Frequently, there are torn flaps of skin that die before healing.
Treatment
Often can’t be stitched
Must be kept …………..
Best to keep wound open
to enable healing

10. Types of wound Puncture wounds Treatment
Often more serious than they look
Opening may be small, but penetration can be of varying depths.
Dangerous if sited around a joint
Treatment
Assess severity
Vet may need to be called
Clean ……………….
Must be kept open to enable
……………. from the inside first

11. Task two Wound Description Of wound Treatment Laceration
Clean, straight cut
Requires cold hosing, or a combination of hot and cold treatment.
Incised
Grazes
If located around the joint must call a vet. Keep wound open to enable healing
Contused
Jagged edges to wound
Must be cleaned thoroughly. Skin should be kept moist
Abrasion
Bruise or sprain
Can be stitched –up if the wound is fresh.
Puncture
Small hole, can penetrate deeply
Often can’t be stitched. Wound must be kept clean.

12. Treating wounds General wound care Tubbing Poulticing Hot fomentation
Cold treatment

13. General wound care Assess the severity of the wound
Hose with cold water (helps to clean area and remove inflammation)
Cut hair away from the site
Clean wound with a warm saline solution using cotton wool (clean wound from centre to outside, using a different piece of cotton each time)
Apply antiseptic cream

14. Tubbing Prepare a bucket of warm, saline solution Clean horse’s foot
Grease the bulbs of heel (unless this is the site of infection)
Place foot in bucket
Dry foot
Used to provide relief
Used to clean infections in the foot

15. Poulticing Tub the foot Dry the foot Apply a warm poultice
Apply self-adhesive bandage around the hoof
Apply electric tape to secure if required
(occasionally use baby nappies)
Used to draw infections out of the area.
Commonly used on the hoof to draw out foot abscesses

16. Hot fomentation Used on sites where Poulticing is not possible
Immerse towel in hot water
Wring the towel out
Hold against the skin
Repeat so that the towel remains warm
Use of heat
Ease pain and stimulate healing

17. Cold treatment Assess the area Apply the cold hose
Run the water above the site of inflammation
At least 20 mins
Repeat frequently
Used to remove heat and inflammation from the area to aid healing

18. Task Three
Write a list of equipment you would require in order to treat a minor wound
List: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

19. Task four
Complete the sequencing task for Poulticing a horse’s hoof

20. Aims Objectives To be able to treat a horse’s wounds
To know how to check a horse for injury
Identify possible sites of injury on the horse
Identify different types of injuries
Outline the care for each type of injury

21. Task five
Practical on the Yard
To carry out Poulticing

22. Questions