The idea that horses must be shot if they break a leg is a long-standing belief, but not always true, explains former equine veterinary nurse Debbie Graham. Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, many fractures can be treated successfully, allowing horses to recover fully and live normal, pain-free lives.
A broken leg simply means a fracture of one of the bones in the limb – and with around 20 bones in each leg, the severity of the injury can vary widely. Fractures can take many forms, from hairline cracks to compression, spiral, or greenstick breaks, each requiring different approaches to treatment.
Over the years, diagnostics, surgical techniques, and rehabilitation methods have improved dramatically, meaning that what once could have been a death sentence for a horse is now often a manageable injury. With the right care, patience and expert intervention, many horses return not only to everyday comfort but in some cases even to competitive performance.
We asked equine veterinary surgeon Emma Trott how vets decide which breaks can be treated – and what factors influence the outcome for each horse.
"There are lots of factors to consider when assessing a horse with a broken leg," she says. "Factors can include which bone is fractured, what type of fracture is present, how large the patient is and how the horse will cope with rest and confinement to help the fracture heal.
"The welfare of horses is always our highest priority, ensuring that horses can carry out the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare, which are:
- Freedom from pain, injury and disease
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from fear and distress
- Freedom to express normal behaviours
"Therefore, when considering the best outcome for our horses, it is important to consider what type of injury the horse has and how the individual horse will manage with the treatment plan. When considering treatment options, it’s also important to consider the costs involved with each treatment option. Owners may find having their horse insured for veterinary fees can help alleviate some of the pressure associated with these decisions."
How are broken legs treated?
Did you know that vets can apply a plaster cast to horses?
"For certain types of fractures, such as a fracture in a horse’s foot, we can apply a plaster cast to the horse’s hoof to allow the fractures time to heal," says Emma. "For fractures higher up the limb, we use multiple layers of bandage material to create a robust support bandage known as a Robert Jones bandage."
Did you know vets can use plates and screws in horses?
Emma says: "In young animals or smaller breeds of horse, we might use a short anaesthetic to apply screws and plates to help fix broken bones. In fully grown horses, the risk of general anaesthesia combined with complications in recovery, and long periods of time spend on box rest mean that we can’t always apply metal work to fix fractures. However, there are some fractures that can be fixed with screws whilst the horse is sedated and still standing."
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Can you amputate a horse’s leg?
"Sadly, unlike in humans or other smaller animals, amputation is not generally advised in horses," says Emma. Due to their size and design, horses would be unable to support their weight with only three limbs, and application of a prosthetic limbs can lead to other complications and injuries.
"Therefore, these horses would have a poor quality of life and not be able to meet the 5 freedoms discussed above and may be euthanised.
"Overall, a fracture in a horse’s leg doesn’t always mean the horse needs to be euthanised. Depending on what type of fracture the horse has, combined with knowledge about the horse itself, an appropriate treatment plan can be planned."
