What To Do

Following an impact or accident, and if you do not notice an obvious injury like a wound or obvious fracture, give a horse several minutes to recover before making any judgments about the the severity of the injury.

Let the horse rest for a few moments. Then try to walk the horse forward a few steps. Monitor the horse for sweating and high heart rate. Run your hands all over the horse's limbs, looking for swelling, breaks in the skin or increased digital pulse in the affected hoof. Lift the limb gently, manipulate it and assess its range of motion.

If lameness or reluctance to move persists longer than 5 minutes, contact your vet to discuss your findings and concerns. Horses that continue to resist bearing weight for more than 5 minutes, or are seriously lame at the walk for more than 10 minutes are more likely to have sustained a serious injury (fracture, tendon or ligament injury).

What Not To Do

Do not simply assume that the horse is "better" based on rapid improvement following obvious traumatic injury. Certain injuries including tendon and ligament strains will worsen if they are not managed promptly and correctly at the outset. When in doubt, get veterinary assessment.

Do not mask signs with pain relievers like phenylbutazone, and force or allow the horse to exercise, as this may worsen the injury.