What do you do when your horse becomes lame.

Question

HI, I am wanting to buy, and board a horse at my local stable, I am 13 years old, and before I can even think about that my mom wants me to make sure I know all I can about the care of horses.

I have looked different horse care websites, but none have seem to answer my question.

So I was wondering if any of you know what am I supposed to do when my horse goes lame?

Do I just give it different vitamins or supplements?

Or is it better to just call a vet, and let them deal with it?

I have been riding horses since I was six, and I have basic knowledge, but I do need to more about actual HORSE care.

Thanks so much:)

Answer 1

First, If it's a mild lameness and you can't identify it through heat or swelling, I normally just give the horse a few days off if it doesn't clear up call the vet. But that usually clears up the little things (it can be stall or pasture). If the horse is chronically off (mildly), you might want to consult your vet. You horse might have a underlying problem that only a vet can diagnose.

If you horse is off and you can identify the location through swelling or heat, cold hose it twice a day and put him in a paddock by himself with enough room to walk around. You don't want to put him in a stall it this case (he needs to move around to keep the blood flowing in that leg) and you don't want to put him in a pasture with other horses because he might re-injure it. If you are trained at wrapping legs, you can put a pressure wrap between hosings, but do not do this unless someone has taught you. You can end up doing more damage. The idea is to keep the swelling down. Swelling is very bad in horse's legs.

If your horse is dead lame, cannot put weight on one leg or the leg is so swelled up that the tendon area feels rock hard, call the vet immediately. There is something severly wrong.  

Answer 2

Shoot it.

Answer 3

bust out ur 10 gauge and blow its brains out

Answer 4

Lameness always means CALL the VET!!! I don't know what you have been reading but you haven't learned much. Lameness is serious stuff.

How much time have you spent doing volunteer work in a horse barn? I would start there. If you are a good worker then maybe they would pay you. Horse business is LABOR intensive - food, water, combing, exercising, brushing and clean-up are all huge jobs - done every day. Think about it.

You need to subscribe to a good magazine for people your age - sometimes you can find the right one if you have a book store nearby that sells lots of magazines. Check them out then subscribe.

Google lame horses - you'll find lots of reasons for lameness. Books are some times better than the internet - use the library.

If you have been around horses more than half of your life you need to pay more attention. You need to really dig in and learn something.

Answer 5

Call the vet, lameness is a serious problem that needs to be seen to by a vet.  The vet will probably give you care directions as well as tell you what to do the next time it happens.

Lameness doesn't really go away on its own and with an animal as heavy as a horse it causes major problems and pain.