Wounds which need immediate veterinary attention include:

Blood spurting in a jet from the wound: An artery has been damaged and the bleeding must be stopped.

• Action: Push a clean wad of cotton wool or Gamgee into the wound. Hold or bandage it in place to slow the bleeding. Contact the vet.

Deep wounds to the foot: Puncture wounds, e.g. a nail . Deep wounds or penetrations may result in infection in the sensitive tissues and vital structures, such as the navicular bone. Infection deep in the foot is difficult to treat once established.

• Action: If possible leave any foreign body (e.g nail) in the foot until the vet arrives, so that he see exactly where the injury has occurred. Hold the foot up to avoid any further injury. If this is not possible, mark the puncture site with a circle of felt tip pen and if there is to be a delay before the arrives, tub the horse’s foot.

Wounds over joints, tendon-sheaths and tendons: Any wound close to a joint or tendon-sheath can result in infection of these areas which unless treated immediately may cause severe lameness. The moving surfaces of joints and tendons are oiled by a fluid called ’synovial fluid’ which has a pale yellow colour. Leakage of clear yellow fluid from a wound indicates that a joint or tendon-sheath may be involved, and infection may develop with disastrous consequences.

• Action: A vet must be called immediately. Below the knee and hock, on the back of the leg, (behind the cannon bone or pastern) the tendons are close to the skin surface, and any wound may have resulted in damage to a tendon or ligament. Emergency veterinary care is needed.

Wounds to the eyeball: The eyeball is a delicate structure and any wound which damages it may be serious and may need surgery

• Action: A vet must be called immediately.