Pasture Wars

For me, the mental and physical  benefits of group turnout outweigh the risks.  Cupid is in a large, slightly sloped pasture with 5 other geldings during the day.  Most of the time they just eat or stand around, but occasionally one gets the notion to run which usually results in the whole herd taking off.  

Just over a week ago Cupid came in with a scraped up leg.  The barn manager texted me a picture and cleaned it up.  It seemed superficial, though there was a bit of swelling the next day.  My vet happened to be in the barn so took a quick look, but said it should be fine if I just clean it and apply ointment.   Cupid was not lame on it, and by the next day the swelling was gone.  I walked around the pasture to make sure there weren't any loose boards or nails but didn't see anything out of place.

Injury on right front, above his old puncture wound and popped splint

 

A fair amount of swelling for a surface level scratch

All bandaged up

Then this morning I didn't get to the barn until after the horses were already turned out.  As I was walking towards Cupid's pasture I saw and one of the retirees grooming each other and thought, how cute.  However a moment later apparently the other horse had enough (or maybe was embarassed to be caught, lol) and just turned and kicked Cupid!  I thought maybe he didn't connect, but unfortunately there was a fresh wound on Cupid's other front leg!  Since I didn't see the first injury I don't know for sure it's a kick, but they are pretty similarly placed.  

Second injury, on left front

My barn takes precautions, like horses in group turnout are not allowed to have hind shoes and new horses are introduced gradually, after a few days in an adjoining pen.  But horses will be horses, and even an established herd of mostly easy going gelding get rowdy every now and then!  Luckily these injuries were mild and I still believe the benefits outweigh the risks.