AGSC 334
Equine Science
First Aid of Horses
8896-B
TEKS: 119.66 (C)(3)(C)
Class Notes Key
Horses try to protect themselves by running away from things that frighten or endanger them. In doing
so, they often run through or over obstructions that may be in their way, which results in injury. Horses’
first means of defense is to kick, which may cause injury to themselves. Horses are curious and paw at
objects, stick their legs or head through holes, or get tangled up in equipment. These activities often
result in injuries such as cuts or puncture wound. Injuries result more often when horses live in stables
where a possibility of contacting dangerous objects is higher. Many common forms of unsoundnesses
often results from injuries caused by physical stress and strain endured beyond a horse’s normal
capabilities. Horses may damage tendons, ligaments, muscles, and bones if they are forced to run too far
or too often, jump too many or too high of fences, or stopping too quickly. A horseperson should
administer first aid when necessary. First aid is the emergency treatment administered to an injured or
sick animal before veterinary service is available, used to prevent pain and further injury, and reduce
pain.
FIRST AID SUPPLIES
Horse owners should have first aid kits near at all times. They are available commercially but can be
assembled by purchasing the supplies separately. The following list includes basic first aid items usually
found in equine first aid kits.
 Absorbent cotton
 Hoof knife
 Adhesive tape
 Hot-water bottle
 Alcohol
 Hydrogen peroxide
 Antibiotic ointment
 Hypodermic syringes & needles
 Assorted bandages
 Iodine
 Blanket
 Lead rope
 Bucket
 Leg wraps
 Clippers
 Liniment
 Epsom salts
 Petroleum jelly
 Eyedropper
 Plastic bag for ice
 First aid instruction book
 Scissors
 Germicidal soap
 Shoe puller & spreader
 Hack saw
 Tourniquet
 Halter
 Veterinary thermometer
It is wise for the horse owner to know each item in the kit and its proper use.
WOUNDS
Four types of open wounds are abrasions, incisions, puncture wounds, and lacerations. Abrasions are
injuries destroying only surface layers of the skin. Incisions are wounds produced by sharp instruments,
and the cuts usually have smooth edges. Puncture wounds are penetrations of the superficial tissues.
Superficial describes an injury or condition affecting the surface of the skin. Lacerations are cuts with
irregularly torn edges. A horse owner must quickly judge the severity of the wound and decide on the
need of a veterinarian when an injury occurs. The severity of a wound depends on several factors:
location and depth of the wound, type of cut or tear, amount of tissue damage, and type of tissue
affected. Call a veterinarian to evaluate and treat deep, incised wounds because they may involve
injuries to tendons, bones, joints, or other vital parts. Superficial wounds such as skin abrasions can be
treated by the horse owner. Lacerations on the lower leg are difficult to treat because they may involve
tendons or ligaments and are more susceptible to the development of proud flesh. Proud flesh is excess
scar tissue on an injured area. Open wounds can heal in two ways. Either the sides of a wound stay close
together so the cells grow quickly to bridge the gap or the process of granulation occurs. Granulation is
the most common type of healing in horses and involves the growth of new tissue upward from deep
within the wound. It will gradually fill in the gap from within until a wound closes. Removing foreign
material from a wound helps to avoid delays in the healing process. Excessive movement of an injured
area can also irritate a wound. Bandages or leg wraps may serve to immobilize a wounded area to
prevent unnecessary motion. A cradle, side stick, or cross tie may also aid in restraining a horse to
prevent irritation to an injury or wound. A cradle is a device useful in preventing an animal from licking
or biting an injured area. Wash wounds regularly with lukewarm water or saline solution. Saline solution
is a solution of salt and water. If a wound does not show signs of healing within a few days, contact a
veterinarian. If a horse suffers a more serious injury, contact a veterinarian immediately. Move the horse
to a quiet area, calm it down, clean the wounded area with a saline solution, and remove any foreign
material. A tetanus shot and an injection of antibiotic may be necessary to prevent infection. A tetanus
shot is an injection to protect the animal from developing lockjaw while antibiotics are substances with
the capacity to inhibit the growth of or kill microorganisms. Incisions and many lacerations often require
sutures to close the skin and promote healing, but a puncture wound should never be closed by suturing.
A puncture wound may heal at the surface, but infections may develop below the surface. This can cause
an abscess and a longer healing time. An abscess is a localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by
disintegration of tissues. Puncture wounds must drain to heal properly from the inside to the outside.
Wounds heal readily under bandages or casts and with complete rest, but scars that form cause more
problems. A scar forming while the horse is at rest is likely to break down and develop an adhesion
when the horse starts moving again. An adhesion is newly formed uniting tissue. The abnormal union of
surfaces normally separates by the formation of new fibrous tissue resulting from inflammation. A
veterinarian usually prescribes some light exercise during the healing process. If a wound bleeds
profusely, the first step in treatment is to control the bleeding. Blood from a cut artery is bright red in
color, spurts from the wound, and must be stopped immediately. An artery is a vessel carrying blood
from the heart to the tissues. Blood from a vein is darker red in color and flows without spurting. A vein
is a vessel carrying blood from the tissues to the heart. To control bleeding, direct pressure should be
applied to the wound. A tourniquet is rarely necessary to stop blood flow and, if used, should be applied
with extreme care. Direct pressure is applied by firmly pressing a sterile pad to the wound and holding it
in place by hand or a bandage. Sterile means free from living microorganisms. After bleeding stops,
clean the wound with warm saline water and mild soap and remove dirt and foreign material. Water
pressure from a squeezable bottle or hose is useful to clean wounds. Gauze can be used if other methods
are unavailable. Avoid cotton, peroxide, irritating disinfectants, or other healing agents as they may slow
the healing process. Wounds must be sutured by a veterinarian within 12-24 hours for best results. Some
wounds need bandaging for protection from dirt or other irritation, to help decrease movement of the
wound, and promote faster healing. Bandaging can be dangerous if done improperly. Horse owners
should be familiar with procedures for bandaging a horse and practice the procedures until skilled in
using them.
BURNS AND SCALDS
Heat, cold, chemicals, or electric currents can cause burns and scalds on horses. Burns covering large
areas are classified as major burns, and those covering small areas are classified as minor burns.
Superficial burns are no deeper than the thickness of the skin while deep burns extend through the skin
and may involve fat under the skin, the muscles, and even bones. The area a burn covers is more
significant than the depth of the burn. Large surface burns are particularly dangerous because a large
amount of fluid escapes from the body. A horse suffering from a severe burn or scald may go into shock
or later develop toxemia and infection. Shock is a state of profound depression of the vital processes of
the body. Toxemia is an abnormal condition associated with toxic substances in the blood. Effects of
shock, toxemia, or infection from severe, extensive burns often cause death of the horse. First aid must
be applied gently to a burned horse and a veterinarian must be called. They may administer an anesthetic
before treating the burn to reduce or alleviate sensation of pain. An anesthetic is a drug causing partial or
complete loss of sensation or feeling, especially of pain. Treatment of small burns and scalds consists of
cleansing the areas and applying suitable dressing. After a horse receives a scald, long hairs remain
attached to the wound. This makes it difficult to determine the extent of scalding. A veterinarian may
clip the hair on the painful area and properly treat the scalded skin.
Frostbite
Excessive cold can produce conditions resembling burns. If a horse stands in mud and water during cold
weather, minor frostbite can develop. Washing a horse’s legs in the winter also causes this injury. The
cold and wet causes damage and death to cells in the legs, resulting in swollen and painful skin.
Frostbite in horses can be prevented by maintaining good nutrition in cold weather and by allowing
horses to grow thick protective coats. Blanketing is recommended during cold weather if horses are
stabled. It is a general practice to not wash a horse’s legs in the winter. If horses are kept outside in the
winter, the ground should be as dry as possible and the horses allowed freedom of movement at all
times. If frostbite does occur, contact a veterinarian.
BRUISES AND FRACTURES
Kicks, falls, or other traumas can cause serious injuries that may not be observed externally. If a horse
suffers an injury damaging muscle or bone, a veterinarian must be called. An X-ray may be necessary to
determine if and where bones are broken. Do not move an injured horse. A veterinarian will make a
temporary splint to transport the injured horse. Successful treatment usually depends on immediate and
continuous immobilization throughout healing. If a veterinarian cannot attend to a horse’s fractured leg
within a few minutes, the caretaker should immediately immobilize the leg. Wrap a pillow around the
injured leg as tightly as possible and wrap bandages around the pillow to keep it in place. Placing two
sticks (splints) alongside the leg and wrapping them tightly will provide extra support and stiffness. If
splints are properly applied, a horse can be moved to a veterinary hospital safely. A fracture in a heavily
muscled area is difficult to manage because it is difficult or impossible to immobilize. It is not
uncommon for a veterinarian to recommend euthanasia for the horse. Euthanasia is the act of painlessly
putting to death an animal suffering from an incurable condition or disease.
STRAINS AND SPRAINS
Strains and sprains result from pulling or twisting movements. Strains are damage to the muscle alone
while sprains are damage to a joint and it tendons and ligaments. Strenuous exercise may cause mild
strains in horses. After hard work, treat the horse to a liniment or alcohol rub followed by wrapping the
horse’s legs in rest bandages which increase the blood flow to the area. A horse with severe strains or
sprains should be rested and movement restricted until a veterinarian arrives.
EYE AND/OR EAR INJURY
Failure to treat eye injuries properly can result in permanent damage and blindness. Dirt and debris can
be flushed from a horse’s eye with clear water or a boric acid solution from a squeeze bottle or syringe.
Acid solution is a solution with a pH less than 7.0 such as a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. If
a horse scratches or punctures its eye or if the eye becomes inflamed, contact a veterinarian. A horse
suffering from infection, injury, infestation of ear mites, or growth of fungus will have sensitive ears. A
horse with an ear ailment may shake its head when anyone tries to touch its ears. Sores, growths, or
discharges in the ear usually require veterinary care.
LAMENESS
All horses will experience lameness at some point in their lives. A series of inspections can be
performed to determine the possible cause and location of the lameness. First, the horse’s hoof should be
checked to see if a foreign object has lodged in the sole or frog. The sole is the bottom of the hoof and
the frog is the triangular-shaped formation in the sole of the horse’s foot. If a puncture occurs in the
hoof, contact a veterinarian. If a horse is lame, but nothing is visibly abnormal with the hoof, feel the leg
for any heat or swelling. If a limp persists, contact a veterinarian as persistent lameness may become a
serious problem. If a horse is acutely lame with injuries or swelling, a horse owner or caretaker must
give first aid treatment before a veterinarian arrives. Application of cold therapy is common first aid
treatment because it reduces pain, swelling, bleeding, and inflammation. The cold temperature causes
the blood vessels to constrict which in turn reduce blood flow to the cold treated area. Cold treatment
should be applied quickly as possible after an injury occurs. However, cold treatment should not
continue past the first 24-48 hours after application to an injury. After this time, cold treatment may
interfere with healing. Applying cold to an injury can be done several ways. The simplest way is to run
cold water from a hose on the injured area. Other methods of cold treatment include applying ice packs,
standing a horse in a cool stream, standing a leg in a bucket of cold water, or applying cold packs or
wraps. A cold treatment should last for 20-30 minutes, with one-hour periods of rest before starting
another treatment. Heat can be used on an injury to increase blood supply to an area by causing blood
vessels to dilate which in turn increases blood flow to a hot area. Dilate means to enlarge or expand.
Heat should not be used on an infected area, as it allows an infection to enter the bloodstream and spread
to other parts of the body. Heat may be applied by heat lamp, warm water, hot water bottle, liniment, or
poultice. A poultice is a moist, mealy mass applied hot to a sore or inflamed part of the body.
BANDAGING
Bandaging a wound offers protection from dirt or other irritation, helps decrease movement of a wound,
and allows faster healing. An improperly applied bandage may do more harm than good, however.
Bandaging is a skill to be learned with practice. All caretakers should learn bandaging procedures and
practice them until they are proficient in applying bandages. Bandages usually consist of padding
material and an adhesive, elastic, or nonelastic wrap. Outer coverings of a bandage include “Vetrap” and
“Ace” bandages. Vetrap is self-adhering and has contouring qualities making it useful for bandaging
awkward or difficult to reach areas.
Stable Bandages
A stable bandage extends from below the knee or hock to the fetlock and supports the lower leg
and leg opposite an injured leg, protects wounds from insects and foreign material, covers
medications, minimizes swelling, and provides warmth.
Pressure Bandage
A pressure bandage aids in stopping bleeding and preventing swelling caused by injury. It is a
specialized bandaged and requires experience for safe and correct application. It is often
necessary to apply the bandage quickly and tightly to stop blood flow.
Immobilizing Bandage
Immobilizing bandages prevent movement of an injured limb.
Spider Bandage
The spider bandage is a specialized bandage for immobilizing large, bulky wraps or for protecting less
bulky wraps covering a joint. A spider bandage allows some movement of the joint. Sufficient padding
must be used if it is to immobilize a joint. In many cases, another type of bandage will be necessary in
addition to the spider bandage.
Figure Eight Bandage
Another type of bandage useful for wrapping joints, such as the knee or hock, is the figure eight
bandage.
Sweat Bandage
A sweat bandage reduces swelling in the leg by increasing blood flow through application of heat and
should only be applied by a veterinarian.
Poultice
The purpose of a poultice is to draw infection and inflammation from a wound, can reduce
swelling and pain of a sprain, and can help prevent swelling of tendon areas after hard work. Hot
poultices increase circulation while cold poultices decrease heat. A poultice should only be
applied with the consent of a veterinarian.
Ice Pack
If a horseperson applies an ice pack to an injury as soon as possible, it can reduce the heat in an
injured area. The sooner ice is applied to an injury, the more effective it is. Ice packs are
effective up to 48 hours after an injury occurs.
Cold Water Bandage
The purpose of a cold water bandage is to apply cold pressure to cool a warm, strained leg. A
cold water bandage is most effective when it is applied to a leg just treated with cold running
water.
General Bandaging Guidelines
Different bandages should stay on the horse for different lengths of time. Although a bandage may stay
on the horse for up to 12 hours, it is important to check a bandage frequently. A bandage should be
changed if:
 It is no longer functional
 The leg is swollen above or below the bandage
 The horse shows signs of pain or becomes lame or more lame
 The bandage slips from its original position
 The bandage becomes dirty or wet.
The following are guidelines for ensuring a bandage is safe and does not injure the horse or cause further
injury to the wound being treated.
 The bandage should include ample padding.
 Try to make each encircling fold of a wrap even and parallel to ensure the pressure applied
is not uneven.
 Bandage pressure should be evenly distributed throughout the whole length of the leg.
 Wrap in a consistent direction. Always start a leg wrap at the front of the leg.
 Wraps should be snug, but not too tight. Two fingers should fit between the bandage and
leg and one finger for a pressure bandage.
 The padding and wrap should encircle the leg in the same direction.
 Allow enough bandaging material to adequately cover the area being treated.
SUMMARY
First aid is the emergency treatment administered to an injured or sick animal before veterinary service
is available, used to prevent pain, further injury, and reduce pain. A horseperson should administer first
aid when necessary. Horse owners should have first aid kits near at all times and know each item and its
proper use. Four types of open wounds are abrasions, incisions, puncture wounds, and lacerations. Horse
owners should be familiar with procedures for bandaging a horse and practice the procedures until
skilled in using them. Burns covering large areas are classified as major burns, and those covering small
areas are classified as minor burns. Superficial burns are no deeper than the thickness of the skin while
deep burns extend through the skin and may involve fat under the skin, the muscles, and even bones.
Strains are damage to the muscle alone while sprains are damage to a joint and it tendons and ligaments.
Bandaging a wound offers protection from dirt or other irritation, helps decrease movement of a wound,
and allows faster healing.