My horses is sliced down her back leg ?

Question

can racoons attack horses? my horse has big slices down her back leg :( but we cant find anything that could do it in the pasture ?

has anyone had anything similar?

Answer 1

She may have stuck her leg through the fence.  Sometimes this can happen when they roll.  If you are worried about her, then you should take her to the vet.  Maybe you should stay the night with her to see if anything odd appears, just a suggestion.

Answer 2

Predator of some sort....my guess would be bobcat, lynx, or mountain lion depending on where you live...

or feral dogs....

Make sure you see the vet.. so it doesn't get infected.....

Answer 3

It's doubtful a racoon would attack a horse.  I would suspect something more along the lines of a stick, some small something that is sticking out, hardly noticeable.  I've had horses my entire life and sometimes they can do things that make me just shake my head and spin.  I had a colt who came running around a corner, hit something with her head, breaking her orbital bone.  That's just part of having horses.  

Depending on how deep the slices are, be sure you watch them.  This time of year, the flies are awful, not to mention the risk of infection.  A vet might be in order.

P.S. (you have a donkey...I have a mule...haha)

Answer 4

i dont know if this can help but my horse always use to get caught in the pasture fence. he got his legs caughtin it and hed get scratched up and one time he got his chest somehow caught in it and freaked out, and he tried to run away which ripped his chest wide open, he had to have stitches. thats what your horse might be doing

Answer 5

it could have been the fence or a tree, maybe she was itching on one??... with horses in turnout, cuts usually happen. was your horse turned out with one of it's friends? were they playing? just keep it clean, and if it is bad enough then call your vet.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 6

Its very unlikely that an animal did this. However, if it was an animal, you had better make sure your horse is up to date on her rabies vaccinations. I've never heard of a raccoon doing any such thing, but a rabid animal might.

I have had horses come in with injuries that looked like an animal had attacked them, but it was never the case.

Answer 7

If you get a donkey you wont have that problem. a racoon can probably attack a horse but a horse can be strong so I'm thinking there may be something hurting her that is an object not an animal.

Answer 8

i had the same thing happen but a farrier cut the back of her leg, No a racoon cant attack a horse mabey she she did it by a fence. I suggest you wrap it and call the vet. We had to preform a lamanation surgury on her and get her stiched i suggest you call ur vet to fix her

Answer 9

Horses spend much of their time trying to figure out ways to hurt themselves. I know, it sounds nutty, but it is true. Make sure your horse has had a tetnus shot. I give it to mine once a year. SInce I can't see how it looks, I would advise you to call your vet so he can check it out. He may need some antibiotics to make sure infection doesn't set in. It may also need cleaning out, and some antibiotic ointment.

Answer 10

No I don't think I have but I would suggest taking her to the vets, Just to make sure no damage was done to muscles or tendons...

Answer 11

Isn't it amazing how horses can find things to hurt themselves on when we've gone to extreme measures to keep our paddocks and stalls free of dangers!  Sorry to hear of your horse's injuries (hope he's current on tetanus and rabies).

I suppose a rabid raccoon (or a rabid anything) would attack a horse.  I think you'd see punctures, rather than tears, but I suppose if he were using his claws. . . .

I know of somone who found puncture wounds under her horse's jaw - and unfortunately it afffected the salivary glands and took forever to heal - she almost lost him.  The vet said it looked to her like a bite puncture.  We could not figure out what in the world happened.  He showed up with more injuries.  Then she came home one day and found her neighbor's dog (a pitbull) chasing him in the paddock.

I think I'd have to see the lacerations on your horse to guess the cause.  It sounds like you checked the fencing for spinters, etc. (assuming, of course, you don't have any wire- type fencing).

Anyway, as someone said, you really ought to have the vet out, if you haven't already, as the back of the lower legs have very fragile structure (tendons and ligaments) which are easily and permanently damaged.  You probably already know that.  Hope she heals well and you figure it out.

Answer 12

I've had that. Actually my horse scratched herself up against a rough tree. Then my retarded little brother let HIS EVIL LITTLE PONY into the pasture. And his pony gave my horse a hard time. So I begged my Dad to do something and now Comet ( EVIL LITTLE PONY) stays in the riding ring.( clear of obstacles of course.