What started as a routine trip to Fort Morgan, Colorado, to shoe horses for Josh Lyons turned into something much more meaningful. On 1 September, a horse stepped on a board with a screw in it (Figure 1), causing an unexpected and serious injury. The person who found the horse, with the best intentions, pulled the screw from the horse’s foot using a set of nail cutters, not realizing the potential consequences.
In the days that followed, Alisha Anderson of Breakthrough Horsemanship and Teresa Speer of Rocking Speer Ranch were among the first to respond to the situation. Knowing that I was scheduled to come out on September 4th, they sought guidance via phone and video call to care for the horse until my arrival. They wanted to do everything possible to keep the horse comfortable and prevent further complications. It was a race against time, and everyone was doing their best to make sure this horse had a fighting chance.
On 3 September, Chad Petard and I started preparing for what we knew would be a challenging case. We built custom hospital plates (Figure 2 & Figure 5) in multiple sizes, knowing we’d need the right fit to protect the horse’s foot and aid in recovery.
The next day, I flew into Denver International Airport and drove straight to Littleton, Colorado, to Oleo Acres Farriery Supply to pick up additional materials for shoeing and, more importantly, to care for the injured horse. When Teresa and I arrived in Fort Morgan that evening, we wasted no time. We pulled the horse out of his stall, and what we saw was heartbreaking. The horse was presented as grade 5 on the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Lameness Scale, which meant he was barely able to put any weight on his injured leg. Lameness of this level indicates extreme pain, and it was clear that the 3-inch self-tapping screw, which had broken off from a wooden board, had caused severe trauma. The screw had penetrated approximately 1 inch deep and was located just 3/8” lateral to the apex of the frog (Figure 3).
Despite the best efforts of the individual who initially removed the screw, the wound had started to fester. We knew immediate action was needed. I debrided the puncture site to the sensitive sole, allowing the wound to drain. As I worked, the infection became evident, draining as I breached the new sole. We soaked the hoof (Figure 4) in warm water and Epsom salts to draw out the remaining infection and provide the horse some much-needed relief. We probed the wound to check the depth and applied “Today” Lactating Cow antibiotic cream to the puncture channel. We determined that the screw had penetrated 2mm into the sensitive sole under the lateral toe of the coffin bone.
That night, we applied the hospital plate and stalled the horse, hoping the worst was behind us. The following morning, we contacted a veterinarian to obtain antibiotics. To our immense relief, when we pulled the horse out of his stall on 6 September, his condition had drastically improved. He went from a grade 5 lame to a grade 2 almost overnight. For a horse to go from barely able to move to only showing slight lameness under certain conditions was remarkable.
We continued the treatment, turning him out in a small pen to help increase blood flow to the affected area. We removed the plate cover, cleaned the wound, soaked it again, and reapplied antibiotic cream. We also used the Bemer Blanket Cuffs to help improve circulation in the lower leg and reduce inflammation. Each step in his recovery felt like a small victory, and I’m happy to report that the horse’s future now looks bright.
Takeaways for Hoof Puncture Wounds:
• If possible, leave the foreign object in the foot. This allows veterinarians to take X-rays and determine the extent of the damage, guiding the most effective treatment.
• Contact a farrier and use a hospital plate. Keeping the affected area clean and protected is crucial to preventing infection and ensuring proper healing.
Looking back on this experience, I’m reminded of the incredible resilience of horses and the importance of teamwork. From the quick response of Alisha and Teresa to the dedication of everyone involved, it was a collective effort to save this horse’s hoof. It’s in moments like these that I’m reminded why I do what I do—because every horse matters, and every story like this one is a testament to the power of compassion and care.
Kommentarer