Horse wounds happen—on the trail, in the barn or paddock, and sometimes for reasons no one can quite explain. Being prepared with some simple first aid know-how can help you feel more confident when facing an unexpected injury, which, let’s face it, happens more often than we’d like.
Horses have a talent for finding trouble. They’re like toddlers, always bumping their heads or skinning a knee. While cuts, bites, burns, and scrapes are common on the legs and face, no area is completely off limits. As a horse owner, you likely know the common culprits for injuries:
While not every wound is an emergency, early care matters. The decisions you make affect healing, soundness, and scarring down the road. Knowing what’s normal, what’s not, and when to call your vet can make all the difference.
To help you navigate those decisions, we asked two veterinarians—Dr. Paige Pomorski and Dr. Brandi Huddle—to answer common wound-care questions horse owners ask most often.
Dr. Pomorski: Restrain your horse and move them, if possible, to a clean, well lit, confined area to assess the wound. Ring your vet and send photos ASAP for further guidance.
Dr. Huddle: When you find a wound on your horse, assess the damage. If it appears to be something more than you’re comfortable treating, or you have concerns, contact your veterinarian.
Dr. Pomorski: Bleeding is often a component of many lesions. Superficial wounds may not bleed depending upon the depth.
Rhythmic, forceful streaming of blood from the wound may indicate involvement with an arterial structure and is of concern for significant blood loss. If observed, applying compression to the wound with a tight bandage will help slow bleeding while you ring your vet for help.
Dr. Pomorski: Location is a huge factor in determining the severity of a wound. Often even the smallest cuts can involve important structures. There are two instances that I always tell clients warrant a vet call: a wound that is full thickness through the skin or a wound that’s near a joint.
Ideally, wounds that can besutured should be done within a specific time frame, so contacting your vet ASAP is recommended for the best outcome.
Develop a good working relationship with your vet before an emergency arises and understand how to best contact them especially after hours. Often, they don't mind a phone call to help decide whether it warrants an in-person visit or if it can be managed on-farm.
Dr. Pomorski: Immediately call your vet for guidance and assessment. Make sure the affected area stays clean until they arrive. Reaching out for immediate assistance can make or break these cases.
Dr. Pomorski: Often it doesn't hurt to use a temporary bandage to keep debris and contaminants out of the wound until it can be assessed by your vet.
In some instances, minor wounds can be left to open air, but the majority will benefit from bandaging.
I always advise clients to keep a variety of bandage material on hand in case of emergency. Make sure bandage supplies are stored in a clean, dry place.
Dr. Huddle: Each wound is different, so it is impossible to make a blanket statement.
For this particular wound (see graphic below), the owner started by applying a healthy layer of Simply Clay Salve and a cotton and vet wrap bandage, changed every 24 hours. Diligently—this wound took months to heal.
Once the open part of the wound healed over, they began removing the bandage in the morning, leaving it open to the air all day and re-bandaging at night until it had a healthy layer of skin covering the scar, and the hair filled back in over time.
Dr. Pomorski: Minimum timeframe for bandage changes is typically daily, but it can vary case to case. If the bandage becomes soiled or slips, it will need to be changed more frequently.
Dr. Pomorski: Early intervention and commitment to keeping the area bandaged and clean make a huge difference for infection prevention.
Keeping the wound moist, minimizing infection, and encouraging timely closure with proper selection of topical treatments for the stage of healing are all factors that will help minimize hair loss, scarring, and development of proud flesh.
Dr. Huddle: Watch for any signs of infection and contact your veterinarian immediately if concerned. Treating wounds as quickly as possible is the best way to reduce infections, scars, hair loss and/or proud flesh.
Most wounds will drain, so keeping the hair under the wound clean helps to reduce hair loss.
Apply bandages to lower leg wounds to prevent proud flesh. Staying extremely diligent with wound care is the best way to prevent scarring.
Dr. Pomorski: There is a plethora of wound treatments out there to choose from. Some are great—others not so much. The type of wound, location, and stage of healing often drive what I choose to apply as topical treatment.
Regardless of the situation, I would avoid applying anything to a wound prior to discussion with your vet. Often when we arrive on site various powders or creams have already been applied by a well-meaning owner or barn staff. It can make it difficult to not only assess the wound but also impedes the ability to clip and clean the area.
Not every product is intended for the initial stages of wound management, and careful selection of what fits your situation should be done with the guidance of your vet.
Dr. Pomorski: Simply Clay Salve is a simple formula containing only water and bentonite clay which has been demonstrated to be of benefit in wound care. I like the simplicity of the ingredients providing a natural option for owners to utilize.
This clay contains both copper and zinc components which have natural antibacterial properties. Other studies have also demonstrated bentonite clay to downregulate inflammatory mediators. The consistency also allows it to be applied to create a protective barrier over the wound which can be especially helpful for wounds that are in an area that cannot be wrapped. It can assist in keeping the wound environment moist, but also has properties to draw excess fluid from the wound bed.
When considering utilizing Simply Clay Salve for your horse's wound, I recommend a discussion with your vet to ensure you're using it during the appropriate stage of healing to maximize the benefits.
Made with activated Redmond bentonite, Simply Clay Salve soothes discomfort, draws out fluid and infection, and supports circulation and healing. Use it on cuts, bites, stings, burns, and infected wounds for fast, natural relief. Keep it in your horse’s first aid kit—at home, in the trailer, or on the trail—for reliable care wherever you ride.
Dr. Paige Pomorski is the owner and veterinarian of Midwest Veterinary Service. A 2022 graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, she provides large animal veterinary services throughout her region, with a special interest in equine care. Inspired by a childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian, Dr. Pomorski has built her practice around expanding access to quality care for horses and livestock.