When do injuries to your horses dictate whether you ride them or not?

[Alter_Walter]

I’m talking injuries that don’t necessarily require vet attention, therefore “ask your vet” might not be the best answer to the question.

If the horse is sound, and the injury is nothing to do with the mechanics of a basic workout, would you ride? For instance, if a horse has a swollen wound on say, his croup, or neck, or even face…do you still ride? Pressing on the swollen area (or the sore its self) produces a pain response…duh… but do you give them time off or do they stay in work?

I feel that since the horse is sound as can be, and the injury isn’t much more than a flesh wound with some swelling, that it should stay in work. I’ve got people in my ear telling me that my horse deserves time off because he probably doesn’t “feel good” because he has an owie on his butt (or neck or face, or anywhere that tack isn’t a concern)

What is your rule?

If I had a cut on say, my chest, and it bothered me a bit when touched but I was otherwise seemingly okay, I would probably still ride, do other cardiovascular work, etc. I can see the other persons side to the argument that you really don’t know if they are feeling “okay” but I think this person is being overkill.

[Sunflower]

It depends.
Rest is important for the healing process, and I would not want to stress a horse with work that needed to use energy for healing. If something seemed to be somewhat inflamed or infected, that could impact how the horse is feeling over all-- it could make them feel pretty poorly overall. I would avoid working a horse that showed any signs of inflammation or infection anywhere. If my horse is NQR, then I do not work them. They would get no benefit from the work, and it would likely slow down the healing process.
But then each horse, each owner and each injury is different.

[Janet]

Too me, a “swollen wound” ALWAYS warrants calling the vet, at least to talk on the phone and describe the details. And part of that discussion would be whether to ride or rest.

[toady123]

Describe an ‘owie’? What specifically is the injury a result of? Is he sound, alert, eating well etc?

I have ridden the guy I PB with scratches, small bumps, bug bites, bites from roughhousing in the field etc. But if I find them I generally have the BM take a quick look, and monitor him for the first few minutes to make sure they are not affecting his way of going.

If the horse doesn’t appear happy to do his work (e.g. is lazy, nappy, resistant etc), or if he is lame then yes time off is completely appropriate. And I think it’s important to be very observant - just because an injury shouldn’t affect their way of going doesn’t mean it won’t.

[trubandloki]

As others have said, it depends.

I know that if I did not work every time I have an injury I would not be at work much.

If it is a scrape that does not interfere with life at all then sure, ride. Probably not the day for an intense work out but getting out and moving around can be a good thing.

[Alter_Walter]

The injury in question is a rough-house type bite on his croup. He is completely 100% sound. He is eating drinking happy and playful in the paddock on his own. I have almost no doubts that the horse is fine, and the bite absolutely does not warrant a call to the vet. The bite is a traumatic injury to his tissues, which is where the swelling response came from. The wound is NOT infected, shows no signs of infection, and has been cleaned and cared for every day since it occurred on Sunday. FWIW, the swelling is minimal, pretty much what you would expect to happen when someone bites down on your arm, breaks a bit of skin, and lets go. Swelling has gotten lower and lower since injury.

Please, let me reiterate, the injury is NOT severe. It’s under control, and it’s fine. I simply just wonder what others think of injuries and what warrants continuing work and not continuing work.

Soundness is always a big factor. I just got into a debate with others who literally retire their horses for three weeks while a superficial skin wound (small scratch with a scab on it) is healing. I think it’s unnecessary and causes the horse frustration when they enjoy a schedule and depend on a schedule and enjoy being in work.

[jessiesgrrl]

My guy had a superficial nip almost square in the center of his back, I gave him 3 days off as the saddle/pad would lay directly on it and although it was just hair loss and some raw rug burn, it could irritate the crap outta him and become worse.

However, the 20 other bite marks on other parts didn’t get the same treatment based on location.

Now his open leg wound (see horse care for details - Derazil) he is off until further notice

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=Alter Walter;8116211]

Soundness is always a big factor. I just got into a debate with others who literally retire their horses for three weeks while a superficial skin wound (small scratch with a scab on it) is healing. I think it’s unnecessary and causes the horse frustration when they enjoy a schedule and depend on a schedule and enjoy being in work.[/QUOTE]
I agree. I would ride.

[heronponie]

I would probably skip a day or two until the swelling goes down, or do a longeing/in-hand session. A swollen bite on the croup is close enough to saddle area that I wouldn’t want to add a rider’s weight until the wound was cold.

ETA for some reason I was thinking loin area instead. I would feel ok about riding w/ a superficial wound to the croup. (But personally would probably still take a couple of days off, because that’s how I am.)

[Red_Barn]

In a case like that, I think I’d probably do something easy and relaxing that the horse generally likes, like a pleasant hack or some light longing, just to avoid any stiffness that might result from an altercation like that.

More work probably wouldn’t kill him, but I just prefer to err on the side of caution and being a nice guy.

[North_Dakota]

depends on the injury, a skin off the croup bite would probably be iced and have something put on it so it stays soft and if it gets scabby keeps it from cracking. I also feel this is a know your horse situation. I have a horse who gets swelling around any cut he gets. Generally I clean them, make sure he is sound and then yeah he will be ridden depending on the location. This ride may be a power walk and a light trot, but moving gets his swelling down quicker. Now if his leg was swollen and there wasn’t a cut, time to call the vet, or if he wasn’t sound.

[beowulf]

It depends.

My guys are outside 24/7… in a pasture-type setup… So… I’ve become reluctantly well acquainted with what I call “Field-Scrapes”. I mean… my guys have come up during grain time with everything from a NAIL in the neck ( :eek: we don’t even have stalls!) to a nice golf-ball sized hole in the shoulder. It comes with the territory.

I break it down to where it is, what it is, and how much it moves when horse moves. Is it superficial?

If it is a high movement/involvement area (stifle, knee, chest, etc) I will usually give the day off.

Scrapes? I don’t usually give the day off.

Mine consistently is adorned from head-to-toe (and right now mostly flank :mad: ) with the teeth-scrapes of his paddockmate across his flank and barrel.

However, if I have to stop and ask if it is okay to ride… chances are, it’s not and they deserve a day off.

[inca]

As an old timer I know would say, that is awfully far from his heart…

If they are sound and are acting normal, I ride, as long as the “wound” isn’t anywhere that the saddle, saddle pad or girth will rub. And of course also given that it isn’t in a place that would be exacerbated by work.

Heck, I got my hand caught in my truck door a month ago. Bruised and swollen but nothing broken. I still fed horses, cleaned stalls, moved hay bales, etc.

[ybiaw]

I mean, I’d probably take it a little easy, but I wouldn’t put the horse on stall rest. I wouldn’t enter it in a grand prix either, though.

[CHT]

One of my lesson horses got beat up last year and I was surprised when my vet told me that these bumps/bruises actually needed antibiotics…even though there was no broken skin. I guess when the skin is pulled away from the tissue underneath it can risk infection…so now a raised welt that lasts more than 24 hours raises concern for me.

little nicks and scrapes that aren’t over a moving joint or where the tack goes? Much less worried.

[AmarachAcres]

If the wound is not vet worthy, is not wear gear goes, and will not increase pain levels with activity, there is no reason not to ride.

[JJARAB]

another “it depends.” my guy and his pasture mate have been known to spend the day giving each other the horse equivalent of pink bellies and Indian burns, so I take it day to day. Unless it’s directly under the saddle/pad area or bridle area, I will usually ride. He did come in with one rather spectacular bite wherein I still rode, but we took it easy and he got a little bute for a couple of days and panalog for the superficial scrapes.

When he developed photosensitivity, which appears primarily superficial, he got a week/10 days off as it was all over his pasterns which he flexes quite deeply. It was patently uncomfortable for him to move out (think of doing a strenuous workout with the worst sunburn ever, ow!).

I generally lunge first anyway, which is a good way to spot possible discomfort that doesn’t “work out” the more he moves.

I think it really is one of those YMMV situations, but the good thing is, even if you tack up and get on, if something doesn’t feel quite right, you can just hop off and try again tomorrow. :yes:

[merrygoround]

I too love that old saying. “It’s a long way from his heart”.

In this case I’d ride.

[FineAlready]

I would ride in the case the OP describes. It really does depend on the horse, the injury, etc. My horse REALLY needs to be ridden/worked every day unless he has a real lameness or problem. The other day, he was covered in hives, so I did not ride. I stuck him on the lunge to walk and do a couple circles of trot, but did not stress him.

He was actually lame recently from a bruised sole, so I obviously did not ride then.

But for lumps, bumps, cuts that don’t seem to bother him and are not where equipment goes, my rule with him is to ride or lunge, and just keep things light and easy.

[FineAlready]

@merrygoround;8118006

I too love that old saying. “It’s a long way from his heart”.

I actually hate this saying with a passion. Hooves are a long way from the heart, but laminitis can be deadly. A broken pastern, also a long way from the heart.