Occurrence of Wounds in Nigerian Horses.

This study presents the investigation into the prevalence among Nigerian horses of wounds, their anatomical locations as well as the factors, like age and season, affecting such occurrences. It was discovered that approximately 10% of the horse population had wounds, mainly centered around the hind limbs, hip, and flank.

Study Design and Sample Population

• The research was conducted at the Obollo Afor horse lairage in Enugu State, Nigeria.
• A total of 1,621 horses were sold within a 6-month period, split between 3 months of dry season and 3 months of rainy season (February-April and June-August 2012).
• From this population, a systematic sampling technique selected 207 horses; these horses underwent a thorough physical examination.

Investigation Methodology

• The researchers identified and recorded horses exhibiting wounds.
• The location of the wounds on the body was also recorded. These areas included the head, forelimbs, hind limbs, tail, flank, loin, hip, barrel, and croup of the horses.
• The horses were clinically examined to gather more information about the wounds and their potential causes.

Key Findings

• Of the 207 horses examined, 21 (or 10.1%) showed signs of wounds.
• The distribution of wounds across the body was varied. However, most wounds were located on the hind limbs, hip, and flank of the horses.
• There was no significant relationship between the occurrence of wounds and the horses’ gender or the season it was examined.
• However, adult horses showed a significantly higher incidence of wounds compared to young and aged horses. The p-value (< .05) suggests this finding is statistically significant.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• The study concluded a relatively high occurrence of wounds (10.1%) among the sampled horses. The wounds were mostly found in adult horses and located on the hind limbs, hip, and flank.
• It recommended that those responsible for the care of horses should be given proper education about horse welfare and management to possibly mitigate the reported wound occurrence.