Injured horse - need suggestions please

Wags · #1 03/04/12, 06:24 PM

My 4yr old green broke mare was kicked by her pasture mate sometime last night. I sent pictures to a vet, and discussed it with her and we decided to go the route of a cold water rinse and then treating with Vetrimycin.

I've only had this horse for a couple of weeks, certainly not enough time to have built up any sort of close bond with her and she hates being tied. We are working on that, but I'm afraid if I tie her up and then try to hose her off she is going to totally freak out. She has not been bathed before and all I have is a garden hose.

I have tried convincing her that the hose is not a scary monster most of the afternoon with out any success. I let her sniff and hear and see and then leave it and come back.

I'm starting to think sedating her (and paying the extra $150 for the vet to come out on Sunday) is about all I can do. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get a scarred young horse to cooperate?

Injured horse - need suggestions please - Equine

Injured horse - need suggestions please - Equine

chris30523 · #2 03/04/12, 06:48 PM

Have you tried a bucket of water and a sponge or cup to slowly pour the water on? Most horses are not afraid of a bucket. I wouldn.t try to tie her if you have someone who can hold her. Don't hold her close and let her move away if she wants until she gets used to it. I had a mare with a wound above her eye that we used ice water in a bucket and a sponge to rinse it out. We just squeezed the sponge close to her wound and she did fine.(Don't rub with the sponge just squeeze out the cold water) Not as good as a stream of water from the hose but it works.

wr · #3 03/04/12, 07:46 PM

I've always had better luck if I handle the horse and the hose. Make sure you have your horse in a pen in case you do lose her. Don't hold her tight and keep the hose close to you and start with a light stream and wet her feet. She may step away but keep at it slowly working your way up her legs until you can get to the shoulder. It may take a while but use this as a training opportunity and if it takes a couple days, you might want to use a simple spray bottle until you're both on the same page.

Wags · #4 03/04/12, 08:00 PM

Tried the bucket and sponge - didn't work. She is just totally scared of her own shadow at this point. *sigh*

chris30523 · #5 03/04/12, 08:17 PM

Have you been able to rinse it at all? I have used scarlet oil before but I was able to rinse the area first. The spray bottle is a good idea if you can get her used to the sound.

**Tiempo** · #6 03/04/12, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wr

I've always had better luck if I handle the horse and the hose. Make sure you have your horse in a pen in case you do lose her. Don't hold her tight and keep the hose close to you and start with a light stream and wet her feet. She may step away but keep at it slowly working your way up her legs until you can get to the shoulder. It may take a while but use this as a training opportunity and if it takes a couple days, you might want to use a simple spray bottle until you're both on the same page.

This is what I would do but I wouldn't even bother with the spray bottle.

Just stay by her shoulder at a safe distance and move with her...keep the spray down by her feet until she gives and slowly work your way up.

Look at this as an opportunity to get her used to the hose once and for all.

Good luck!

Wags · #7 03/04/12, 08:45 PM

It has been just me with her, and about the only thing I've managed is to get her mane braided and away from her wound. I haven't been able to get it cleaned at all. And at this point she won't let me close to her.

tinknal · #8 03/04/12, 09:19 PM

Wow, where to start........

I'm trying to be kind here, I really am. To start with, "green broke" is probably the most dangerous and inaccurate words in the horse world. If anyone ever tries to sell (or give) you a "green broke" horse run, not walk away. Secondly, you need actual live help from a good trainer. Not for the horse, but for yourself. You really do need to learn how to handle this horse. This situation is bad enough that you will not get what you need by asking questions here.

That said, the wound looks worse than it really is. It is just skin deep. Probably too late to stitch. If you can get close enough I would slather on a good layer of furozone cream. It should heal up just fine.

wr · #9 03/04/12, 09:27 PM

I agree with tinknal, the injury isn't overly bad and if I'm not mistaken, you haven't had much recent horse experience so I'm thinking that you're likely causing a lof of your own problems because you are expecting her to behave badly. I think you mentioned a trainer in an earlier post and perhaps you can call your trainer and get them to come over and show you how to handle this.

Her respect for you is currently being tested and it's going to shape the rest of your relationship. If she wins this round, you can darned sure bet she's going to do her best to win the next one and the one after that.

Wags · #10 03/04/12, 09:42 PM

You are right, she is green and I've been out of horses for awhile. But I was not expecting her to behave like this, as we did have a pretty good relationship prior to this. She was better this morning, but when we removed her buddy (the one that kicked her) she got much more upset and her buddy is upset at the separation too which isn't helping matters. I was the only she would let get close to her this afternoon, but she doesn't trust me if I have anything other than her lead rope in my hand at present.

The vet will be coming tomorrow to sedate her so we can get it cleaned up, and after that I will continue to treat her and build trust. The trainer isn't available, but I spoke with him by phone and he recommended against stitching it.

I know forums aren't the best place to ask for advice, but sometimes ideas are presented that I haven't tried before, or that the vet hasn't mentioned.

wr · #11 03/04/12, 09:59 PM

How green is she and what training methods are you using to build trust? Having to sedate a horse can be necessary but it may also open a whole new can of worms.

Wags · #12 03/04/12, 10:28 PM

She had about 60 days of training on her when I got her. I'm doing natural horsemanship - the trainer I have worked with uses methods that he learned from Buck Brannaman. I have also read and watched DVD's from other natural horsemanship instructors.

tinknal · #13 03/04/12, 10:43 PM

Sorry to tell you this, but a horse that has had 60 days training should stand tied and tolerate handling. You need to go back to day one with this horse. Have you ever heard of the Minnesota Horse Training Academy? They offer a 3 week school. I will guarantee you that if you attended this course that in 3 weeks you, and your horse will be better trained those 60 days of training produced.

Wags · #14 03/04/12, 10:47 PM

I agree that she should do better with the amount of training she had prior to coming here, although I don't think she was ever very good about standing tied. Hasn't helped that I was in an accident on the way to pick her up. So I haven't been able to do a whole lot with her once she was delivered.

Minnesota is a bit far away for me. I had planned on placing her with a trainer locally, but the vet bills are going to eat up what I had set aside for it. I am confident we will get where we need to be, just won't be overnight.

wr · #15 03/04/12, 11:21 PM

I apologize. I didn't realize you were injured in an accident or I would have suggested someone else handle her firmly. Unless you have some other work planned, I don't think your vet bill is going to be too expensive.

If you don't mind me asking, how does she come to only have minimal training at her age?

chris30523 · #16 03/05/12, 07:43 AM

Glad the vet is coming out. Sounds like you need the help to treat the wound. If she will still let you approach with the lead line you can work out the other problems. Sounds like when you get this problem fixed she needs alot of desensitizing work. Experienced trainers are well worth the price if they work with you and the horse.

Sherry in Iowa · #17 03/05/12, 08:24 AM

Hi Wags, sorry your horse got injured. Hope the vet and you get her fixed up safely today. I just wanted to add that sugar or honey on that wound will help it stay infection free and heal nicely.

My sister-in-law's horse got a rip across her chest. She used the sugar and you can't even see the scar now.

Wishing you and your horse the best.

Wags · #18 03/05/12, 10:17 AM

The vet bill will be about $350-400 dollars. Her adoption fee was $500. Hubby was never 100% on board with having horses so my concern is mainly about him when it comes to the bill.

Curious came into the rescue along with her dam and 3 other horses that were also starved. (Body condition scores were all 1 or less.) At 18 months old she had no human handling and was a very scared and angry horse. She has mellowed a lot, and wants to be with people now. She has been here just three weeks, and was following me around in the pasture without a lead rope on, minding her manners and was doing pretty well with the limited amount of ground work I have been able to do with her.

Even when she was scared yesterday, when I would back off the pressure she would drop her head and start licking & chewing. I was able to get her mane braided and out of the injury site. But as her pain level increased she became increasingly flighty and scared.

As for sugar - the vet recommended a mix of sugar and neosporin as an alternative to vetericyn. But I never could get water on the wound site to flush it.

Curious greeted me today when I went to feed and check on her, but is more wary than usual and while she let me approach her, she didn't want to come to me when called like usual. I plan to spend the morning buttering her up, and hoping to built up points with her before the vet comes this afternoon.

chris30523 · #19 03/05/12, 10:58 AM

Wow that is an expensive vet! I had a mare treated for an open wound much larger than that. she was so awful for the vet he had to hand dart her to sedate her . The wound was irrigated ,and treated with scarlett oil ,tetanus shot, antibiotics to put in her feed, and bute and it was 225.00. Hope it turns out to be cheaper than you are thinking.

Ohiogal · #20 03/05/12, 11:09 AM

If she were mine, I'd give her enough Bute to get her comfortable, and then work on the hosing. I'd have her in a stall and haltered until I worked through the 'catching' issues. If she doesn't stand tied, put 2 halters on her, and tie her to a stout post and let her figure that out first. Once she respects being tied, and can stand with hay and be relaxed, and is out of the initial pain, you can then safely work on her.
Anything other than this is asking for trouble. Good luck and be safe!