Poor Blue chased thru barbed wire fence

VickiGG · #1 5th May 2007, 11:44 PM

Woke up to the phone ringing at 8am this morning - always those calls that scare me. YO on phone... we had put Blue in with one of her horses who has bone spavin last night, he is a huge 17.2hh horse. I was a bit worried - I should have listened to my gut instinct and said no.

They were fine initially but it seems during the night Lucky terrorised Blue - he has huge bites all over him - a really bad one on his back, and Blue must have got trapped in the narrow end of the paddock (at the bottom of a slope) and jumped out of the paddock, through the barbed wire fence (neighbours cow fence boundary).

It's a twenty minute drive to the farm - and I had terrible visions of what he would be like when I arrived. By the time I got there YO was giving his a warm water wash down and she had already got the vet to check him out. He gave him a tetanus but luckily - no tendons, no deep injuries (the chest wounds have gone through all layers of skin and a nasty back leg barbed wire cut) but apart from that - lots of wire cuts, but no broken bones, no puncture wounds. Thank goodness. I am still in shock. I hate the thought of him being so terrified he had to jump out of the paddock. YO apoligised profusely as did YO OH.

They found him just standing in the neighbours paddock but I think he was sweating and shaking still - we are not sure how long before that it happened. He had gone quite a way in the neigbours paddock which leads down the the main road and has a lot of trees (fallen) and dips and streams, broken fences etc - so he was so lucky.

Wendi had given him some food and helped me wash the wounds... he was eating - that was a good sign. I applied emu oil, aloe cream on and then some wound powder.

So I chopped up some bananas and carrots (his favourites) and left him to dry off and relax a bit in the sun while I go home and have a shower and have breakfast.

Here are some photos.

His chest looks the worst - the top barbed wire broke so he must have broken it here..

Both the tops of his front legs have wounds

The bites - the first one is the worst

Back legs

VickiGG · #2 5th May 2007, 11:45 PM

The fence - see handfuls (mouthfuls I should say) of his mane on the ground;

When I left him...

chestnut-mare · #3 6th May 2007, 12:03 AM

Oh how awful. You must be feeling pretty traumatised just now. It's terrible that another horse could be so cruel. What a brute! I hope you both recover soon.

Ptaty70 · #4 6th May 2007, 12:10 AM

OH LORDY, POOR BLUE

those pictures are just scarey! he was really bullied. I think (apart from the barbed wire wounds), the one on his back looks really deep.

Poor little guy

How is he reacting now? does he seem calmer?

You must remember, as hard as it seems, horses do not always carry emotional scars forever, it is the humans who do. Once he gets in with a horse he can trust and you can trust, you should both be okay. Don't beat yourself up at all as horses will be horses and sometimes you just can't tell what they are going to do. Why did you have a gut instinct that it wasn't going to work? does the other horse have a history of bullying behaviour!?

Did he need any stitches and I presume you are having to treat the wounds for quite a while to come? How are you going to deal with the flies? do you have a decent barrier cream?

(roll on those bananas!!! He deserves a plantation-full!!!)

Gilly 101 · #5 6th May 2007, 12:13 AM

Hiya

That look like its going to be sore, a bit of TLC and lots of treats whilst hes healing.

Gill

Dina · #6 6th May 2007, 01:21 AM

Awww,poor Blue

Emu oil is very good,I used the Equi Fix cream on Chunkys leg and it works very well.
Hope he heals up soon.

VickiGG · #7 6th May 2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ptaty70

Why did you have a gut instinct that it wasn't going to work? does the other horse have a history of bullying behaviour!?

Did he need any stitches and I presume you are having to treat the wounds for quite a while to come? How are you going to deal with the flies? do you have a decent barrier cream?

(roll on those bananas!!! He deserves a plantation-full!!!)

Hi ya ptaty - when YO suggested they go in as paddock mates I didn't feel right about it. Lucky used to be a stallion and he's so much bigger and stronger than Blue - and he has shoes on. Blue is 24 years old (we think) and has arthritis... not really a good match.....

He didn't need any stitches thank goodness.... the vet was AMAZED he got through it as lucikly as he did.... especially for an old guy.....

I have puffed wound powder on after the emu oil cream - it keeps the flies away.....

I'll have a good check on him again this afternoon - his back hock seems the most sore (last piccy in first post)

You are right - he seems quite calm now - and normally he is in with foals and yearlings so he bosses them round....

I am being brave for him.

When I left he was happily eating his carrots and bananas...

I'll try not to think about what he must have gone through.... he's lost alot of weight overnight.....

This was him when I left - I put him in a paddock by himself - next to the young ones, and gave him some hay to focus on.... it's a nice sunny warm day... for autumn

He broke the top row of barbed wire see...

VickiGG · #8 6th May 2007, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dina

Awww,poor Blue

Emu oil is very good,I used the Equi Fix cream on Chunkys leg and it works very well.
Hope he heals up soon.

I know - poor guy - is that Equifix the purple and yellow container Dina? Wonder if it's ok to use arnica yet - I thought you couldn't use arnica on broken skin but not sure... anyone know?

Off to buy more carrots and bananas soon...

When we put him in the new (alone) paddock - he trotted off to the far end - away as far as possible from said horses paddock..... his back leg looks a bit sore but the fact he trotted was a good sign I think - plus he's eating - always good

Grace O'Malley · #9 6th May 2007, 03:29 AM

Ouch!!!

Poor baby

So thankful it wasn't worse.

Dina · #10 6th May 2007, 04:53 AM

Yep,Equi Fix is the one in the purple and yellow container.
Nope,I don't think you can use arnica on broken skin.

Chinarider · #11 6th May 2007, 06:16 AM

Poor Blue, he is lucky to have you as his Mom

lots of TLC for the old chap and of course tons of carrots..

My cure all is Camelia oil with Lavender added, it goes on everything, and I think without bias, I have the nicest smelling Hoss on the yard !

Hope he feels better soon, not nice pics

NOOO

magicalmac · #12 6th May 2007, 10:07 AM

Big hugs to poor old Blu and you of course. I hope hes feeling better soon.

horseygirl123 · #13 6th May 2007, 12:08 PM

Awww poor fellow

Those wounds look pretty nasty, he must have been so scared to have jumped that barbed wire

No you cant use arnica on open wounds, tea tree oil is always good tho

Wishing him a speedy recovery

NoviceNic · #14 6th May 2007, 12:11 PM

Poor Soul. Give him huge hugs from his mates on NR....

Ptaty70 · #15 6th May 2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VickiGG

Lucky used to be a stallion and he's so much bigger and stronger than Blue - and he has shoes on. Blue is 24 years old (we think) and has arthritis... not really a good match.....

I have puffed wound powder on after the emu oil cream - it keeps the flies away.....

You are right - he seems quite calm now - and normally he is in with foals and yearlings so he bosses them round....

aha, well that would answer why you were worried... poor old Blue!

Emu oil cream? that would be the height of luxury over here... sounds very swanky!

Vive the day he goes back in with the youngsters. He probably enjoyed showing them their manners!!!!

He had a very lucky escape, espeically not to have any stitches. Best wishes to both of you!! I hope he heals quickly!

Whatanejit · #16 7th May 2007, 10:35 AM

Oh poor Blue!

Only just got this as I've been away.

What a shock for you to get that phone call.

Get well soon Blue!

VickiGG · #17 7th May 2007, 10:45 AM

Spent an hour or so with him today again - tried applying cream to wounds and he was very touchy/ouchy - more than yesterday so I guess the shock wore off....

He still doesn't want to go down one end of the paddock where he can see (one paddock and a driveway away) the horse that terrorised him... he stays out of sight round the corner.... and won't budge.... there are no other horses at the end where he stays...the two yearlings are between him and the other horse....so he has no company up the other end but doesn't want to even 'see' that horse for now.

Gave him some more hay and some apples and carrots - and had Jools (trimmer) come and check out his feet... all fine.... she couldn't believe how lucky he was...