My horse has a wound. Can I treat it myself?

Wound first aid begins well before you reach for Betadine and bandages. The first critical step involves a variation on the concept of triage—the sorting of patients depending on the urgency of their need for care—in which you decide, based on the severity of the wound, whether you will treat it yourself or seek immediate veterinary assistance.

In making this decision, the nature of the injury is only one factor. You'll also have to consider the resources you have on hand, your skills and experience in wound care, and even your comfort level with handling the situation. Managing some injuries will involve a straightforward process, while other injuries most definitely will not.

It's ultimately up to you to make that distinction. Answer the following five questions to determine the best course: