THE types of hunting injuries experienced are linked to the geographical location of the hunt and country that is hunted over. The following are injuries that commonly occur during the hunting season.

HUNTING WOUNDS

WOUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH FOREIGN BODIES

Wounds associated with foreign bodies are quite common amongst hunters. The significance of these depends on the location of the wound and depth and direction of the penetration.

Timber stake penetration wounds to the front of the chest or inside of the hind legs are particularly serious. Perforation of a body cavity such as the chest cavity or abdomen usually has a poor outcome.

OverReach Injuries

These are very common and usually involve a front limb caused by a horse striking itself or being struck by another horse. They tend to bleed a lot and are usually unstitchable. Their severity is dependent on what structures are involved. Flexor tendons, tendon sheaths and joint structures will have a poorer outcome.

Wire Injuries

The most complicated type to deal with are ones to the front of the hock, and caused by high tensile wire or sheep wire. These cause a lot of soft tissue damage including compromising the blood supply locally. Stitching these wounds is usually not successful.

DEALING WITH A

HUNTING WOUND

When a wound occurs at a hunt, the most important thing to do is to assess the severity of the wound. A cut near a joint or tendon sheath, with or without lameness, is an emergency and prompt veterinary attention should be sought. Synovial (joint or tendon sheath) penetration if not treated appropriately can be a career ending injury.

Deep wounds or other penetrating wounds should also be assessed by a veterinary surgeon. Depending on the severity of the cut, return to the trailer promptly or arrange for the horse to be collected.

For simple wounds, if the horse’s temperament allows it, clean the wound on-site. Start from the centre of the wound and move outwards to avoid recontamination of the wound.

Good quality white paper towel that does not disintegrate when wet can be used, using a fresh piece each time to clean.

Use a saline solution made up by adding one teaspoon of table salt (9g) to 1 litre of warm water. Disinfectants such as iodine or hibitane should not be used as they can delay wound healing.

Flush the wound with the warmed saline using a 60ml syringe with a luer end (narrow tip rather than large dosing syringe).

Once flushed and visibly clean, apply a wound dressing (e.g. Melonin). Soffban bandages are useful to have to keep the dressing in place especially when dealing with a moving horse. Padding in the form of gamgee is essential, kept in place by a cohesive crepe bandage.

Hunting wounds are often very contaminated; these are best treated by cleaning as before, followed by application of a poultice and bandage.

Wounds that excessively bleed should be treated by applying pressure to the wound, using a multi layered bandage if on a limb, until they can be assessed by a veterinary surgeon as necessary. Tourniquets in general are not recommended as they can affect blood supply to the area. If they are used they should only be applied for very short periods of time.

HOOF INJURIES

Stone bruises which may be followed by abscesses/ bruising forming under the sole are quite common. Flat footed horses are more prone to solar bruising; Hunters with a good solar vault (concave surface) suffer fewer problems.

To treat a stone bruise:

EQUINE FIRST AID KIT