Teaching a foal (9 months) to stand for a cold boot/ hosing/ bandaging etc

TigerTail

TigerTail

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I'd like some thoughts from the brain trust on how others go about this as I dont think I am getting it right - or rather, could do better!

Foal has been handled every day since birth, leads and loads well, has feet picked out and trimmed etc.

Is very anti hose -not even going there atm,so got cold boots as she has a fat leg from going over a fence and her go to is to go round in circles keeping her hind legs away from me.

My normal method of introducing something new is let her sniff it, rub it on her, keep it on if she goes away and remove when she stands still and reward. This really doesnt seem to be working and of course because its an injury I am having to 'force it' rather more than I'd like,

So thoughts please!
 
I would just give antibiotics if needed and turn out. I doubt it’ll still be fat by summer!

I think you can do more damage intervening and stressing them, particularly with young babies. They heal well enough on their own with movement and good food.
 
Is it a serious injury that definitely needs cold therapy? If yes I’ll write out a long reply. If it’s just a bit of filling - Bute and turnout and I wouldn’t make an issue of it right now
 
Pinkvboots said:
I wouldn't hose a 9 month old foal especially in winter I would rather try and get bute down them to take the swelling down.
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I am not hosing - I said that! I have some cold boots, which we got on with v well with her front legs for a similar issue, she's reached that klutz stage, but applying to her back is a big mental block.

God knows why bute hadn't occurred to me - doh! She's still on AB's from her peri rectal abscess a month ago, and theres no open wound just inflammation.
 
ihatework said:
Is it a serious injury that definitely needs cold therapy? If yes I’ll write out a long reply. If it’s just a bit of filling - Bute and turnout and I wouldn’t make an issue of it right now
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Its swollen and hot enough for me to be concerned enough to be persevering with the cold therapy (mine live out and I usually leave well alone tbh!) still sound on it though.

I'd be very interested in your long reply if you have time - all knowledge is worth having :)
 
TigerTail said:
I am not hosing - I said that! I have some cold boots, which we got on with v well with her front legs for a similar issue, she's reached that klutz stage, but applying to her back is a big mental block.

God knows why bute hadn't occurred to me - doh! She's still on AB's from her peri rectal abscess a month ago, and theres no open wound just inflammation.
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Can you bandage it I just buy ice packs for humans and use them on legs with a stable bandage, I got mine on amazon you get 2 and a belt thing and they fit a leg perfect only £13.

I'm using it on Arabi at the moment his got a puffy leg I bought them for my back initially but they do the job fine.
 
Is it getting them on that’s the problem ? Or once they are on he gets upset ?
How long do they need to stay on ?
 
A lot of patience and a barely trickling hose. My BOGOF foal is nearly 7 months old and I am introducing him to the hose in preparation for when he's gelded. Initially, he just stood quietly watching others being hosed and then we literally dripped warm water on his hoof gradually increasing the pressure and moving it up his leg. It's still a work in progress but I didn't want a battle if he needs hosing when the time comes to geld him.
 
Don't force it. Think of getting positive reward onboard - by keeping it on when she goes away you are 'forcing' it on her and she probably gets more worked up. Introduce clicker training or similar. Use on a good front leg, reward for it. break it down into smaller steps.
 
EventingMum said:
A lot of patience and a barely trickling hose. My BOGOF foal is nearly 7 months old and I am introducing him to the hose in preparation for when he's gelded. Initially, he just stood quietly watching others being hosed and then we literally dripped warm water on his hoof gradually increasing the pressure and moving it up his leg. It's still a work in progress but I didn't want a battle if he needs hosing when the time comes to geld him.
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This is what I did with my scared mare. Ran a barely trickling hose near her, slowly moved it up her hoof and then very slowly up the leg to the injury. Doing it this way she stood. If she'd still resisted and moved/jumped around I would cease doing it as wouldn't want her to make it worse.
 
I would start on a wet day, so the legs are wet already.

I would start with a warm sponge or brush and further up, if the day is not wet. Initially only damp, then more water once the coat is already damp.

Once the legs are wet and cooling, then sponge more cool water on.

For the hose, if really necessary, I would start with a front foot as that is easier to reach and not usually as mobile as a rear.

Sploosh sploosh and off before she moves greatly. Splooshes become easier as the shock of cold is already taken by the leg being cold and wet already. Become very familiar with fronts before doing rear foot only, so the odd splash is on the leg (which is already sponged wet and cooled).

Increase in increments, sploosh sploosh and off before she reacts.

Soon be on the spot.

May be a couple or 3 sessions.

Less is more, tiny increments.
 
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