Wounds on horse’s lower legs are notorious for developing proud flesh. After a wound has occurred, the body takes steps to repair it. One of the important steps in wound healing is the formation of granulation tissue. This is a pink fleshy tissue that fills in the wound and provides a healthy bed for new skin to grow over. Horses are extremely efficient at producing granulation tissue, sometimes too efficient. Especially on their lower limbs, horses tend to produce too much granulation tissue so that it grows above the skin edges. This excessive granulation tissue is often referred to as “proud flesh”. New skin cells require a flat surface to effectively grow over during wound healing.
They don’t do very well at climbing up hills. For this reason, excessive granulation tissue, or proud flesh, needs to be trimmed to allow the wound to heal. Frequent communication with your vet during the healing process is helpful in promoting proper wound healing and decreasing the chance of excessive scarring.
