The Benefits Of Manuka Honey For Animals by Aurele Hedley

One of my mares got her leg caught in something which effectively took a lump of flesh off her leg the size of a lump of gammon. When I went to the field I could see the outline from150 yards away - awful.

We got her into the yard and called the vets. His initial reaction was that it was probably going to be fairer on the horse to shoot her immediately. But then realised that she had managed to walk from the field to the yard so the tendons/joint must still be OK.

Unbelieveable.

He asked me if I was insured - No

OK he said. We will give her 5 days of antibiotics and painkillers and if she is still alive in 5 days we will review the situation.

It was impossible to stitch the would as such a huge area of skin and flesh had been sliced away and it was over the front of the hock joint.

As an aside his colleague suggested putting aloe vera on the raw flesh. Also, to save money and because the area was so big - use naopies as a dressing.

When I rang my supplier - Xynergy products - for some aloe vera - they asked what it was for. I explained and the lady suggested Manuka 18.

The vets said the mare would never be sound, that the wound would never be a stable scar because of its location over a joint and the size of the damage.

We were preapred to give it a go as she is not only used for riding - she works on our Equine Assisted programme with kids in care/young offenders/corporate etc.

BUT

4 months later the flesh had repaired and she had scarred beautifully. She is now jumping again and whilst she wouldn't pass a dressage test, you wouldn't know she was lame.

And all we put on it was Manuka 18. Gods gift I think.