How to Get My Horse Unlame Overnight

It's a troubling but common scenario in the horse world: You bring your horse in for the night, and he walks from his paddock to the barn with a slight limp. You panic, not just out of concern for your horse, but you are scheduled to go on a trail ride tomorrow that has been planned for weeks. Is there any chance that your horse will be sound in time? If there are no obvious punctures or other significant wounds, and the lameness is mild, your horse may have just twisted or turned its limb, much like people occasionally do. Whether you can make it sound by morning or not, you can take steps to help relieve the animal's discomfort and help it heal more quickly.

Things You'll Need

  • Ice pack
  • Water hose
  • Pillow wrap
  • Standing wrap
  • Liniment
  • Phenylbutazone (bute)
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Instructions

    • 1
      Examine your horse's leg for swelling or tenderness.

      Check the leg for heat or swelling. Apply slight pressure to see if your horse reacts by trying to withdraw the horse in reaction to your pressure. The less reaction you get from your horse, the less likely it is that the injury is severe (Ref 1, 2)

    • 2

      Apply ice. If you have pliable ice packs, insert one in a sport boot or hold it in place on the area of swelling with a loose wrap, such as a polo wrap. Keep the ice pack in place for at least 15 minutes.

    • 3

      Administer hydrotherapy using cold water from a hose. If time allows, do this every few hours before you bed the horse for the night. Each hydrotherapy session should be at least 10-15 minutes.

    • 4

      Apply a liniment and wrap with a pillow wrap and standing wrap. Make sure you wrap the leg correctly -- counter clockwise on the left side, and clockwise on the right side. Other ways to remember it is to think of a cinnamon roll spiral; or to "wrap towards the butt." Do not make the standing wrap too tight over the pillow wrap, and create an even tension as you apply the standing wrap.

    • 5

      Give your horse Phenylbutazone, commonly referred to as bute. Do this only if your horse has had bute before. Bute will help with discomfort and swelling. If you do not know the correct dosage for your horse's weight, look for a dosage guide on the tube or container, or consult your veterinarian. One gram is the typical dose for a 1,000-lb. horse.