How long to recover from bruises?

[Evil_Cookie]

Ok so I'm not sure if this should be in vet or not, as its not really a vet issue as it's not very serious.

My mare bruised her soles 1 and a half weeks ago, just the front feet with the near fore being the worst. It wasn't awful lameness just a slight nod, and appeared two days after the incident which I am sure caused it.
I've not ridden her since and she has been out 24/7 in her rather rutted paddock, (and the ground is rock hard at the moment, though she seems quite happy to gallop around on it, and even in trot looks less sore in the field than on concrete) the back lady has seen her recently and didn't seem to concerned saying it would calm down eventually, and recomended arnica tablets. The farrier saw her 5 days before so she's not due for a trim for some time now.
Fortunately this is the first time she's ever had bruised soles, (She's barefoot) and I'd like it to be the last, so new hoof boots are on the list of must buys. The old ones no longer fit.
Question is, how long do horses take to recover from mild bruising? She's still lame but mainly on the off fore now, though its only mild (her trot up was a super powered trot, so no lacking in energy

) I don't want to ride her until she is completely sound again but how much longer is it likely to be?
And is the lamness moving from one foot to the other a sign that she was compensating? Or possibly due to said rutted field?

She's happy in herself and had minimum problems in her easter health check (back, teeth, feet etc... ) I've just never had a bruised horse before so don't know what to expect.
Any help appreciated
EC

 

[the watcher]

Our mare with a sore foot took about 10 days, but we were also cold hosing everyday to help reduce inflammation (and also to moisten the hoof which was getting very dry)

 

[K27]

Depending on the severity, I would say a couple of weeks to completely clear up, you could try using hot and cold therapy- ie soaking her foot in a bucket of cold water then changing to warm water- repeat this a few times twice daily- this helps to bring out the bruising. You could also try a Kaolin poultice- heat up the pack and then appply to her feet and use greaseproof paper/vetrap to keep in place. good luck and hopes she gets better. The weather at the mo is making the ground so hard whcih doesn't help!!...

 

[squirtlysmum]

Also try Arnica it really is very good and helps neds and humans too, you can get it from your chemist and give ned about 6 tablets in the morning and evening , poke them in an apple and try not to touch them yourself.
I always take them if I get bruised and they helped enormously after my boys spinal surgery.