Horse Injuries Due to Fences

Most people think that buying a horse is expensive, when in reality keeping a horse is the most challenging part of owning one. Fencing is an essential part of horse ownership, yet wounds that fences cause are frequent and can be serious -- causing illness, lameness and even death. Being aware of the dangers that fences pose to horses can help owners make informed fence planning decisions.

  1. Impalement

    • A very serious kind of injury that can occur from horse fencing is impalement. This type of injury happens most frequently with fences that are made with T-posts: long metal posts that are driven into the ground at regular intervals that fencing is attached to. An impalement occurs when a horse drives the shaft of the T-post or other object, like a wooden board, into and through its body. In many cases, the object will still be in the horse until someone removes it. Death is a result if the abdomen is pierced.

    Punctures

    • Another wound that fencing causes is a puncture. Punctures occur when a T-post or other sharp object from the fence stabs into the body of the horse, then withdraws, leaving a puncture wound. These can be as minor as a small barbwire puncture to the skin, or as serious as a life-threatening puncture to a major blood vessel -- causing death if the horse doesn't get immediate attention.

    Cuts

    • A frequent type of horse injury from a fence is the cut. Cuts can be small or huge. Depending on where the horse hits itself on the fence, a cut can be in one place, such as the chest, or in many places, such as the legs, chest, abdomen, flanks, neck and head. Cuts can be serious and require stitches and drains, or they can be minor and need simple cleaning and wound management.

    Broken Bones

    • A very serious injury that can occur due to a horse running through or into a fence is broken bones. If the fence is strong or made of metal or wood, or if the animal panics, fighting and throwing itself through the fence or forcefully onto the ground, then the horse can break its bones. The most serious are broken bones in the legs, neck, back, shoulder or hip. In many cases, where broken bones are involved, euthanasia is the only option.