Injury Recovery: When Horses Keep Testing Our Patience
If you own horses long enough, you’ll experience the highs and the lows that come with loving them.
Today I’m writing this blog feeling a little deflated and wondering if there are other horse mums out there who know the feeling. The feeling when things just don’t seem to go to plan with our horses.
This morning my horse injured himself again.
It has already been nearly eight months of time off while we worked through ulcer management and abscess recovery. Just as we were beginning to reintroduce some light work, we hit another setback — this time a paddock injury.
Fortunately, the injury should heal well, but it will mean more time and careful management.
Sometimes I feel like horses are very good at teaching us patience.
The Incident
My horse spooked in the paddock and, once again, managed to get tangled with a fence. This resulted in a leg degloving injury (which sounds worse than it actually is).
Thankfully it was a clean wound and we were able to get him treated quickly.
As any horse owner knows, the injury itself is only one part of the concern. For me, the bigger worry is always how situations like this affect the rest of the horse’s health, particularly when medication becomes necessary.
My horse has always had a sensitive digestive system, and I usually try to avoid medications like NSAIDs and antibiotics unless they are truly required. In situations like this though, veterinary treatment is sometimes unavoidable.
Looking at the Bigger Picture
When horses go through stressful events — whether that’s injury, travel, training changes, or medication — it often makes me think about how we can support them as best we can through good management and nutrition.
For me, one of the nutritional ingredients I like to include in my horse’s feeding routine is bovine colostrum.
Colostrum contains a wide range of naturally occurring compounds including proteins, immunoglobulins, growth factors and bioactive nutrients. Because of its unique composition, some horse owners choose to include it as part of a balanced feeding program.
At times like this, I personally feel more comfortable knowing my horse’s diet includes these additional nutritional components while he goes through a stressful period.
Supporting Horses Through Setbacks
Injuries are part of horse ownership, and while we can’t always prevent them, we can focus on the things we can control:
• good veterinary care
• appropriate wound management
• careful rehabilitation
• balanced nutrition
• patience (lots of patience)
Every horse and situation is different, but taking a holistic approach can help support horses through challenging periods.
A Personal Reflection
One thing horses constantly remind us is that progress is rarely linear. Just when we think we’re getting back on track, something unexpected happens.
But each setback is also an opportunity to step back, reassess, and make sure we’re supporting our horses as well as we can.
Nutrition From the Inside Out
For horses that experience periods of stress, changes in workload, or health challenges, many horse owners review their feeding program to ensure it supports overall wellbeing.
Some choose to include ingredients like bovine colostrum, such as Statera Bio-Colostrum, as part of their horse’s daily nutrition routine.
Final Thoughts
If you’re dealing with an injury-prone or sensitive horse, you’re certainly not alone. Horses have a way of keeping us humble.
While we can’t control everything that happens, focusing on good care, thoughtful management, and balanced nutrition can help support our horses through the inevitable ups and downs of horse ownership.
Disclaimer
This article shares a personal experience and is intended for educational purposes only. Statera Bio-Colostrum is a nutritional supplement for horses and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always consult your veterinarian for medical advice.
