Flaming Horses

 Flaming Horses: How To Spot Inflammation

Horses often get sore or injured - especially when riding is added to the equation. Whether it be an injury caused by the farrier, incorrect saddle fit, jumping, or a freak accident such as a slip in the mud, horses are accident prone. Inflammation in horses can come in a variety of ways: swelling, heat, pain, or even loss of function of a muscle. The reason a joint may lose function the result of two main factors such as: heat which occurs when a release of enzymes are sent from the dead or dying cells to the brain to signal something is wrong, and swelling which appears when white blood cells are sent by the blood vessels and move to the injured location to help repair. Unfortunately, sometimes the horse’s body actually damages itself though this rebuilding process. Sometimes the injury is too great for the body to handle and that is when owners need to know the signs to call their veterinarians who can help the inflammation process with multiple therapeutic methods and drugs. (“Inflammation-What it is and how to treat it“ , n.d.). 

Daily checks on a horse could help prevent an injury from growing - and it could also explain why a horse is performing bad or is in a foul mood. In addition to grooming, horse handlers need to palpate, or run their hands along the horse’s body to check for swelling or heat. If the horse quivers or is hotter in an area, there very well could be an issue. By finding all the points of pain or heat an owner and piece together scenarios that could have caused the injuries. For example, small bumps or protrusions on a horse’s back or spine is most likely the result of over jumping or a saddle issue. If an older horse has heat on the back of his left and right foot it is likely he clipped himself with one another. Heat on just the left shoulder could be from the constant mounting on that side. 

First put your hand out to the horse so they are aware of you and your touch. Then, move your hand along their neck - note that heat could be on the neck due to the mane and not due to an issue. If the horse reacts when you slightly push against their neck then a problem is likely. Next run your hand down the back and to the rump. The chest will be the next location. Using your palm, go down the front of the horse’s neck all the way down to the deep pectorals (on the underbelly). The belly is a sensitive area for some horses so always keep an eye on the horse’s body language. Move your hand on both the front and back of the front leg (either left or right). Be sure to feel all the way to the hoof - many times heat will be found on the hock. Do the same to the hind leg, then move to the other side and repeat the leg process. 

Inflammation can be harder to identify in the summertime or after exercising since the horse’s body is a much higher temperature than usual. Horses out in pasture often have heat on their backs due to the direct contact with the sun rays. Also, a horse’s back may be hot after riding due to the saddle pad. One way to trace the heat is by hosing down the horse. This will cause the body to be cool - except for the inflamed area. Also be diligent to the horse’s breed and coat - a thicker or heavier horse may seem hot, but in reality it is just the amount of hair keeping them warm. Temperature checks are important because if a horse has a fever it will be much harder to identify an inflammation since the whole body will be slightly hotter than normal. 

By doing a daily evaluation check where you are searching for signs of inflammation, owners and riders will possibly discover injuries before they develop into major issues. Although you may not know what the issue is exactly, by finding the heated area and describing it to your veterinarian they should be able to make a better diagnosis. The palpation will also allow horse and owner to form a stronger bond. Horse's may not be able to tell us exactly what is bothering them, but luckily their bodies can help us understand what is wrong. Inflammation can start off miniscule but become very serious within merely hours. What was at first just warm could become burning hot within just 5-6 horses after noticing the heat. Just like humans, horses cannot overcome every injury on their own - they need assistance just as we do. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Inflammation-What it is and how to treat it. (n.d.). Retrieved August 31, 2020, from https://emsvet.com/inflammation-what-it-is-and-how-to-treat-it/