What can my horse do in a rubber poultice boot?

abbijay

abbijay

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My BP has an abscess. I know horses get abscesses all the time and in themselves are not too great a worry but 2 years ago he got one that led to an infected pastern joint, thousands of pounds in vets bills and a very lucky escape with his life. This is the first one since then and it is in the same hoof! It has burst through his heel and is draining well (he was not noticeably lame on it unlike the last time). I haven't had the vet out as he is sound and no heat in the leg but I have spoken to my farrier.
He is currently in on box rest but he also has arthritis in both his hocks and his pastern joint so ideally I want him to keep moving as much as possible and have bought an rubber poultice boot. Will I be able to turn out in? Ride in it? Long rein him in it - I can either take him on the roads or in the arena or on the field.
Any advice and general good luck/vibes would also be appreciated! I can't go through all that again.
 
I have used a nappy + duct tape then put a well fitting rubber boot on top and turned out but I wouldn't ride in it nor lunge. I've not had it come off but my horse is quite sensible in the field and it was in the summer when the ground was dry.I'd be wary of turning out into a boggy field as the boot could get sucked off.
 
If he had such a bad experience with an abscess last time I would be tempted to ask the vet to take a look, its got to be worth the cost of a call out. They would be able to pare it back and advise on most suitable care which might include precautionary antibiotics. I agree that turning out in a poultice at this time of year does sound risky.
 
If I had a horse with such a severe infection last time I would strongly consider getting a vet opinion as the first port of call -w hy risk missing and early solution
 
If it is draining nicely you could encourage it along by tubbing the foot.
If it has burst out of the heel it is more difficult to stop getting anything into it, but using a feedbag, nappy, plastic bag (strong one!) and then duct tape all around you could turn him out into sand school for a while. It wouldn't stay on for a field turnout but you could potentially put him in a walker as well. Is it coronet band or right on the heel? How big is it? Is it sore when you press on the burst area?

I would just make sure that you tub after sand school and can even flush it if possible with a peroxide mix.

The problem with Antibiotics is that it can slow the drainage and you then aren't sure how much is coming out. I personally want horses walking about in a yard if they have an abcess as movement helps drainage. Even if the donkeys get an abcess I can usually dig them out and give it a flush and then turn them back out. Ours certainly wouldnt have a dressing on it or stand to have foot tubbed, and they have been grand in a couple of days.

Tbh if it is draining I would turn him out onto concrete yard for a bit or sand school and just make sure that you tub the foot well afterwards, and can poultice overnight.
 
If its one of the fairly new rubber boots on sale, my friend bought one and it will last the trip to and in the field but not really up to much more than that.
 
I'd buy him a pair of hoof boots, put the poultice padding in that and do some roadwork, you can wrap him up properly on return from the ride. Assuming your yard/drive is concrete or something else non-muddy, and you don't ride through any puddles, you should be fine. If he's shod on the other hoof you can buy some brands of hoof boot in singles, others only come in pairs.
 
I think that the OP's horse is a Clydesdale, so I doubt that there are any hoof boots big enough to fit, sadly.

A vet-strider (used to be called horsecrocz) may do for turnout, if the ground isn't too boggy. I wouldn't do any sort of work in one, though. This one stayed on all day out in the field then I took it off in the stable at night, leaving the rest of the poultice on. Can get them readily online.

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I think I'd get a decent vet to have a look at his foot though, given his history.
 
I'd second a horse croc. Mine stayed on a 17.2 on 24/7 turnout for a good week (with changes of dressing obviously). I would not ride, or lunge or long rein. I would think about a test for PPID however, if you haven't done one already.
 
Thank you all for the responses.
Given the history I spoke to the farrier on Wednesday morning and as it is still draining I am waiting for a call back from the vet to discuss. This time he has not been at all lame, no heat in the leg and no temperature so (fingers crossed, touches wood, wears lucky pants) it is not the same level of seriousness yet but don't fear, I'm not just leaving it to chance.
Yes, he is a full clydie and last time I checked the horse crocs weren't big enough nor have I ever found a hoof boot. Each back hoof is 8.5" wide and long plus shoe, dressing, etc! Due to his size and action (a slide as he lands - always the same and not uncommon in horses bred to plough I'm told) even a very strong plastic/duct tape wrapped poultice will not stand up to being walked far on.
I have purchased this https://www.davismanufacturing.com/product/horse-boots-therapeutic-pads/horse-boots/horse-boots/2 as it is about the only thing that is big enough. Hopefully it is as robust as their over reach boots! My plan was to get him out into a dry, flat paddock even if just for an hour but ideally if I could long rein him along the roads too that would be awesome. We did much of his rehab walking on long reins on the road last time and he goes out very well like this - certainly not like the kind of work you'd get from lunging.
 
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