Injuries
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Horses on EquinoxMC can suffer injuries from overexertion, accidents, poor equipment, or environmental hazards. Injuries range from minor soreness to life-threatening trauma and often affect the horse’s mobility or rideability. Timely intervention and appropriate care are essential for healing, and in some cases, euthanasia may be the only humane option.
🩹Muscle Soreness
Mild soft tissue damage from overwork, poor tack fit, or trauma. Presents as stiffness or lameness and heals with rest.
Deadly: No
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Muscle soreness, stiffness, caused by overworking or poor tack fit
Treatment: Rest from work until movement is pain-free
Cure Time: Few days
🩹Bone Bruises
Internal bleeding within the bone, typically from blunt trauma. Healing takes several weeks of stall rest and anti-inflammatories.
Deadly: No
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Lameness, reluctance to move, pain
Treatment: Rest and anti-inflammatory medication
Cure Time: ~12 weeks
🩹Fractures
Broken bones ranging from hairline cracks to full breaks. Depending on severity, horses may recover with surgery—or require euthanasia.
Deadly: Yes, if untreated
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Lameness, clumsiness, tripping, reluctance to move
Treatment: Surgery, casting, and long rest
Cure Time: 4–6 weeks
🩹Punctures
Wounds from sharp objects that risk infection. Require immediate cleaning, bandaging, and antibiotics.
Deadly: Yes, if infected
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Lameness, licking wound, bleeding, redness, scabbing
Treatment: Clean, wrap, apply Neosporin/Polysporin
Cure Time: ~2 weeks
🩹Corneal Ulcer
Scratches on the eye’s surface. Horses show blinking, tearing, and sensitivity. Usually treated with eye drops and rest from sunlight.
Deadly: No
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Eye drainage, swelling, visible white dot
Treatment: Medicated eye drops, protect from light
Cure Time: 2–5 weeks
🩹Torn Ligaments
Severe strain or rupture of connective tissue. Symptoms include swelling and heat. Treated with ice, rest, and pain management.
Deadly: Yes
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Swelling, warmth, pain, possible lameness
Treatment: Cold therapy and pain relief
Cure Time: 2–5 weeks
🩹Abscess
Localized infection under the skin or in the hoof. Causes pain and swelling, and usually bursts or is drained by a vet.
Deadly: No
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Swelling, pain, warmth in hoof, severe lameness
Treatment: Drain, clean, bandage, and pain relief
Cure Time: 2–7 weeks
🩹Stifle Injuries
Damage to the stifle joint, similar to a human knee injury. May cause limping and weakness in the hind legs. Recovery varies based on severity.
Deadly: No
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Limping, soreness
Treatment: Rest, NSAIDs, joint injections if needed
Cure Time: 2–9 weeks
🩹Crushed Leg
Traumatic injury usually requiring euthanasia. Severe swelling, pain, and immobility are common signs.
Deadly: Yes
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Intense pain, swelling, inability to move leg
Treatment: Often euthanasia
Cure Time: 2–15 weeks if treated
🩹Concussion
Head trauma resulting in disorientation, imbalance, or abnormal behaviour. Requires careful monitoring. Often lifelong effects.
Deadly: Yes
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Altered behaviour, loss of vision or balance
Treatment: Pain relief, supportive care
Cure Time: Chronic
🩹Thrush
Foul-smelling bacterial infection of the frog (hoof underside), linked to poor hoof hygiene. Treated by cleaning and medicating the hoof.
Deadly: No
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Foul odor, discharge, sensitivity
Treatment: Hoof cleaning, Metronidazole, daily bandaging
Cure Time: 1–2 weeks
🩹White Line Disease
Fungal or bacterial infection of the hoof wall. Weakens hoof structure and causes lameness. Treated by trimming and antiseptics.
Deadly: No
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Powdery hoof wall, hollow sound
Treatment: Farrier trimming, antiseptic treatment
Cure Time: Weeks to months
🩹Laminitis
Inflammation of the inner hoof wall, causing excruciating pain and sometimes death. Horses exhibit the classic “sawhorse stance.”
Deadly: Yes, if extreme
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Hoof heat, increased pulse, reluctance to move
Treatment: Pain management, supportive care
Cure Time: Weeks to months
🩹Laceration
Skin tears from sharp surfaces or fights. May need stitches or antibiotics to prevent infection.
Deadly: No, can become infected
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Bleeding, soreness, inflammation
Treatment: Stitches, antibiotics
Cure Time: 12–24 hours
🩹Aneurysm
Sudden vessel rupture, often fatal. Horses may collapse without warning. Extremely rare.
Deadly: Yes
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Sudden collapse, rapid weak pulse, cold extremities
Treatment: Euthanasia
Cure Time: None
🩹Kissing Spine
Vertebrae rub or overlap, causing pain and limited mobility. Often seen in performance horses. Managed by rehab or surgery.
Deadly: Not likely
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Back pain, reluctance to work
Treatment: Rehab, retirement, surgery
Cure Time: Chronic
🩹Stroke
Neurological event caused by bleeding or clotting in the brain. Results in confusion, stumbling, or collapse. Often fatal.
Deadly: Yes
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Crooked walking, confusion, loss of control
Treatment: Euthanasia
Cure Time: Terminal
🩹Hoof Crack / Quarter Crack
Splits in the hoof wall, typically vertical. Often caused by dry conditions or poor hoof balance. Treated by farriers and shoeing.
Deadly: No
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Lameness, hoof crack
Treatment: Corrective shoeing, antibiotics
Cure Time: ~3 days
🩹 Broken Leg
Severe bone break, often requiring surgery. If treated early, horses can survive but will never be rideable again.
Deadly: Yes, if untreated
Contagious: No
Symptoms: Lameness, inability to get up, weakness
Treatment: Surgery, bandaging, pain management
Cure Time: ~1 week
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