On a number of occasions I have witnessed or treated horses that have sustained severe injuries from accidents: slipping on ice, hitting fences head-on, rearing and flipping over backwards, etc ... This list is long.

In many of these cases the injuries are immediately apparent. In others, the horse seems just fine afterwards. Often, there is an adrenaline rush associated with traumatic injury. Adrenaline causes horses to appear better off than they are. However, once a horse calms down they begin to reveal the true nature and extent of their injuries. The opposite of this can also hold true; Certain injuries are very painful at the time they occur but rapidly improve.

What the best course of action is if your horse was involved in a severe accident but seems ok immediately afterward? Call your vet immediately and tell them what happened. They may want to see your horse immediately or advise you to carefully monitor the horse over 1-2 days because some injuries take time to manifest.

For example, a horse that hits its head in an accident may appear normal initially, but worsen over the next 12 hours. Bleeding into the space around the brain causes pressure to form that begins to cause signs of brain dysfunction. "Compartment Syndrome" relates to swelling or bleeding in many locations, with the potential to cause pressure build-up on particular anatomy and cause worsening signs.