How to treat horse cuts

Hello everyone

Well it's been a while since my last blog, when I told you about my last BE event of the season, and Alfie's accident where his whole future was left hanging in he balance! He had a nasty fall onto the road after jumping a gate when the hunt appeared and a horse rode by, twisting and rolling over, and sustaining bad cuts to his legs! 

Well I'm pleased to tell you that he has just started to come back into work! I thought you might like to know how to treat horse cuts, incase this ever happens to you....

Alfie was left with a serious cut to his leg, as deep as it could go right down to the bone, and the major concern was if he'd damaged his tendon, or tendon sheaf, but luck was on our side and it was unharmed! Then the major concern was infection, and yet again luck was on our side and no infection occurred, so we were left with patching him up as best we could and hoping it won't leave too much of a mess on his leg. 

This picture was taken 3 days after his accident, healing had already begun

As soon as it happened his leg was cold hosed for an hour, to eliminate swelling, then thoroughly cleaned and examined to determine if the tendon or tendon sheaf had been damaged. Followed by sterilising the wound and pressure bandaging. 

The bandages were changed every two days, which gradually lengthened to every three then four as the healing took over.

The wound was covered with manuka honey and melons patches so not to stick to the flesh, then it was bandaged.....

And finally bandaged some more...

With each unveiling of the bandages, the wound appeared to be healing..

The picture above was taken 11 days after the accident. 21st October, As you can see the edges are starting to fill in with tissue, and quite often people refer to this as the "pizza stage", as the tissue growing around the edges resembles the topping of a pizza.

This picture was taken on the 30th October

And finally this picture is the 10th Novemeber, now un bandaged, I'd just picked the scab off and then I applied more medicine to help prevent proud flesh. 
He was extremely stiff and sore after his accident and I was aware that he didn't quite look "right" in his hind quarters so before he really started work I needed his back looked at.

Alf having some treatment, and thoroughly enjoying It! 

Once again, after his examination,I was pleased to hear to words " luckily no lasting damage", and he was deemed fit for work, there were several sore areas that needed releasing, which were taken care of, and now....let work commence! 

Looking forward to getting him and Storm out and about again at some dressage hopefully soon, although Storm may well be out before Alf, but the sooner he starts working the better, because he is absolutely bouncing at the moment! 

I hope you found my diary on how to treat horse cuts helpful. Check back soon for more fun, exciting times ahead! 

Robbie x