A kick from another horse can look like a simple pasture bump at first. A few hours later the swelling, guarded movement, or first steps may tell a different story. Treat a kick like information before you decide to ride.
Quick Answer
If your horse was kicked by another horse, do not tack up until you check attitude, weight-bearing, wounds, swelling, heat, impact location, hoof involvement, and movement at the walk. Call your veterinarian right away for non-weight-bearing lameness, heavy bleeding, a deep puncture, rapid swelling, obvious deformity, depression, or pain that worsens instead of settling.
Start with safety
Separate the horses first. Do not step into a pasture argument to inspect the injury. Move the horse to a calm, safe spot and watch before touching.
The post-kick checklist
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Attitude: bright, anxious, dull, sweaty, or unusually quiet?
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Weight-bearing: standing square or guarding one side?
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Skin: cuts, punctures, missing hair, drainage, or bleeding?
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Swelling: soft, firm, hot, painful, growing, or near a joint?
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Location: leg, hock, knee, fetlock, pastern, hoof, chest, belly, head, or eye?
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Feet: shoe damage, hoof-wall injury, heel-bulb trauma, or coronary-band swelling?
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Walk-out: short stride, head bob, toe drag, hip hike, or reluctance to turn?
Barn rule: a horse can be quiet and still be sore. Standing is not the same as being cleared to ride.
When not to ride
Do not ride after a kick if the horse is lame, swollen near a joint, bleeding, punctured, unusually dull, reactive to touch, unwilling to turn, or simply not himself. Kicks near joints, tendon sheaths, the head, eye, chest, belly, hoof, or coronary band deserve extra caution.
Where Draw It Out® fits
Draw It Out® belongs after the horse has been checked and red flags are ruled out. Draw It Out® 16oz Liniment Gel fits routine external body and leg care on intact skin. Draw It Out® 32oz Liniment Concentrate fits barns that prefer a mix-to-use routine. Do not put topical product into deep punctures, eyes, or wounds that need veterinary care.
FAQ
Can I ride after my horse gets kicked?
Only if the horse has no lameness, heat, swelling, wound, pain response, abnormal attitude, or movement change. When in doubt, skip the ride.
When does a kick need a vet?
Call for non-weight-bearing lameness, deep wounds, swelling near a joint, rapid swelling, head or eye involvement, severe pain, or worsening symptoms.
Do Not Make the Horse Prove It Under Saddle
The smart check happens on the ground, before the ride has a chance to make a hidden problem worse.
