Hi ,

Two weeks ago, I got a call from a client who'd watched her horse kick a wooden fence.

She'd done a quick check and spotted something lodged in the coronet band - a splinter, about the size of her fingernail.

The horse wasn't lame at the walk. Easy to dismiss. But she didn't.

She called me instead of pulling it out herself. Smart move.

When I arrived, I found the splinter had buried itself about an inch into the foot, deep under the hoof capsule. 

As I started to remove it, the head broke off. The soft timber disintegrated, leaving small, splintered fragments wedged inside.

This is where things got interesting.

We became a team.

She lent me her foot stand. I borrowed her tiny tweezers (much smaller than the ones in my surgical kit). And we cycled through 4 different light sources to find the best one for the job. 

I nerve-blocked the foot, propped the leg forward on the foot stand and wore my helmet for extra protection while leaning in close.

Piece by piece, I cleared the splintered fragments.

The splinter was awkward to remove, but the scary thing was its location. If it had angled toward the midline instead of toward the outside of the foot, it could have penetrated the coffin joint pouch. 

Something as small as a splinter, in the wrong spot, can cause a life-threatening joint infection.

Luckily, by waiting for the vet and working together, we treated this horse at home. In other circumstances, this could have easily turned into a hospital case. 

A few takeaways worth remembering:

• Don't underestimate small wounds.
• Avoid removing foreign objects yourself - wait for your vet if possible.
• Learn anatomy! It helps you understand how serious a wound has the potential to be.
• Be hands-on when your vet arrives. Don't be shy about offering equipment or ideas. We're working with what we can carry in the back of the car and sometimes, your gear makes all the difference.

This owner's sharp eye and calm decision-making kept a small problem from becoming a serious one.

With the right knowledge and skills, you can do the same.

Wishing you and your horse the best of health,

Dr Lizzie
Founder, Empowering Equine Education