Horse Field Injury Management | Animal Welfare Hub

Horses sustained in pasture are vulnerable to injuries from fencing, other horses, and terrain. Prevention and rapid response significantly reduce welfare impacts.

Key Facts

Wire fencing, particularly barbed wire, is a leading cause of serious lacerations in pastured horses
Horse-to-horse kicking causes fractures and soft tissue injuries that can be severe or fatal
Horses that panic in fencing become more severely injured through struggling — calm approach reduces escalation
Tendon injuries in the lower limb are common in pasture and require immediate veterinary assessment
Many minor wounds can be managed with good first aid, but veterinary assessment is essential for wounds near joints
Post-pasture injury care including appropriate wound management prevents complications including proud flesh

Welfare Considerations

Pasture management for injury prevention represents a practical welfare responsibility for horse owners. The choice of fencing material has profound welfare implications: electric fencing and wooden post-and-rail are substantially safer than wire, and barbed wire should never be used for horse containment. Group dynamics in pastures require monitoring — horses that are regularly targeted by herd mates may sustain repeated injuries that accumulate significant welfare harm over time. Rapid response to injuries is equally important: wounds near joints that may communicate with the joint space are veterinary emergencies, and tendon injuries that appear minor can be devastating if not promptly assessed. A well-stocked equine first aid kit and a standing relationship with a veterinarian enables rapid response that minimizes welfare consequences of inevitable injuries.

What You Can Do

Remove barbed wire from any paddocks containing horses and replace with safer fencing alternatives
Monitor group dynamics and separate horses that regularly target specific individuals from injury
Maintain a well-stocked equine first aid kit and know when to call your veterinarian
Seek immediate veterinary care for any wound near a joint, tendon sheath, or that penetrates deeply
Inspect pastures regularly for hazards including broken fencing, holes, and debris
Learn basic wound assessment and bandaging to provide appropriate first aid before veterinary arrival