What should I check if my horse has a wound that won’t close?
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Overview
If your horse has a wound that won’t close, start by checking how it looks, how it’s being kept clean, and whether anything is repeatedly irritating it. Common causes include movement, contamination, proud flesh, poor location, swelling, or a wound that’s simply deeper than it first appeared.
Some wounds heal well with sensible cleaning and protection, but others need veterinary attention because they’re infected, under tension, or healing in a way that’s difficult to sort at home.
Things To Check
1. Check whether the wound is getting bumped, rubbed, stretched, or reopened by turnout, rugs, bandages or tack.
2. Look closely for redness, heat, swelling, discharge, smell, increasing pain, or any dark tissue at the surface.
3. Check the wound edges. If they are gaping, dry, or rolling inward, it may be struggling to close normally.
4. Note the size and depth. Small surface wounds are usually easier to manage than deeper injuries or puncture-type wounds.
5. Check for proud flesh, which can look like raised, soft tissue filling the wound and slowing closure.
6. Look at the surrounding skin for mud, dirt, sweat, fly irritation, scabbing, or repeated wetting and drying.
7. Check whether the horse is lame, sore to touch, or moving differently, as that can affect healing and may suggest a more significant injury.
Common Causes
The most common reason is ongoing irritation. A wound that keeps moving, rubbing, or getting contaminated often takes longer to close.
Another common cause is proud flesh, especially on lower limbs. This can happen when healing is slow and the body builds excess tissue instead of clean skin closure.
Infection, trapped debris, or a wound that was deeper than it first looked can also delay healing.
Less commonly, swelling, poor circulation in the area, or a wound sitting over a joint or high-movement area can make closure more difficult.
What To Do
Keep the wound as clean as you reasonably can, using gentle routine care rather than repeated harsh cleaning. If you are bandaging it, make sure the dressing stays clean, dry and not too tight.
Reduce unnecessary movement where possible and avoid letting mud, bedding or stable dirt keep contacting the area.
Monitor it daily so you can spot changes in size, drainage, odour or swelling. A photo can help you compare progress over time.
If the wound is on a lower limb, stays open despite care, or seems to be building proud flesh, it’s sensible to get veterinary advice so the healing plan can be adjusted.
When To Contact A Vet
Contact your vet if the wound is deep, gaping, dirty, puncture-like, or over a joint, tendon area or lower leg. You should also call if there is increasing swelling, heat, discharge, smell, lameness, or if it simply isn’t improving after a sensible period of home care.
If your horse seems unwell, painful, or the wound is getting worse rather than better, it’s better to get it checked sooner rather than later.
Products That May Help
For everyday wound hygiene and general first aid routines, the arlo.® Horse Care collection may be useful alongside your normal care approach.
Related Questions
Why does my horse keep getting proud flesh?
How often should I clean a horse wound?
Can mud make a horse wound heal more slowly?
Atlas is here to support owners with practical, easy-to-understand guidance. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you're concerned about your animal's health, symptoms worsen, or something doesn't feel right, contact your vet.