Random question and I hope that I've put it in the right section.

Does anyone have any experience of a horse with a broken rib? Does it heal and will the horse be rideable in the furture?

Sorry that I have no other details, a bit of a covert operation

Hi surely your vet will advise you on this??

He would if it was my horse. I've just heard through the grapevine about a "alledgedly" neglected mare with a "suspected"broken rib. I'd seen her in passing months ago when visiting a livery yard and she was in poor condition but had access to food and water so couldn't see welfare doing anything if previous contact was anything to go by. After hearing about the mares alledgedly worsened condition I said I would take it further and contact welfare, now all of a sudden grapevine is saying that someone has bought her and she looks much better and rib has healed?

I would have thought a broken rib, or enough damage to make you suspect a broken rib, would need a vet to get involved and that feeding her up wouldn't cure anything?

Broken rib is the same as for humans, nothing except rest will cure, maybe keeping the animal a little poor to ease the weight but thats about it. Once its heeled should not be a problem to bring back into work slowly.