Worries about horse hunting again!

redfoxhunter

redfoxhunter

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Hi everyone!

My horse has been off with swelling and lameness in his front legs. Vet came out - no idea what it was, said he had probably knocked himself out hunting, everything felt okay with his tendons. He had a week off, with cold hosing, like ice clay and bandages then was cleared to start work again slowly. Three weeks later and cleared to go hunting this weekend - I am, however, a bag of nerves about it!

I did think about washing his legs at the box then applying wet bandages for him to travel home in - does anyone have any opinions on this? I apply pig oil to his legs to prevent mud fever, worried the wet bandages might encourage it to start? He is in stable bandages at night anyway, as his legs have a tendency to fill. Would the like ice clay and dry bandages be a better option for him to travel home in?

Thanks in advance for the advice!
 
Putting wet bandages on will, like clay, make little difference as they will soon become the same temperature as his legs, not be having the desired cooling effect and being wet may encourage the dreaded mud fever bacteria to take hold. I would probably hose off at the box and travel back with nothing on or whatever you usually use, then hose and put ice boots or ice packs on once home while he settles down, or turn out then hose and put them on later if he usually gets put out for a while, it is what I did with an older eventer that needed a bit of help a couple of rounds of hosing and ice will be more benefit than something that quickly warms up, if using ice boots they need to come off as soon as they warm up otherwise they do no good.
 
Applying wet bandages after a days hunting sounds like no fun to me and could possibly give him a chill. Personally I would dry his legs off at the box & apply the clay to travel home in. It will have a tightening affect for a while until it completely drys.

My mothers horse has a tendency for filled legs when being stabled and she's just started feeding, something like below, and his legs are massively better. Might be worth a try?
http://www.hiltonherbs.com/products/cleaver-marigold-calendula/80
 
Biggest tip from me would be whatever you apply, make sure it's suitable to go over cuts, can be easy to miss a little knick at first glance, and some cooling products aren't suitable on cuts and grazes and cause swelling!
I would avoid the worse of the mud etc where possible, keep an eye on the legs. I just wash mine off when they are home and had some water and hay. Some days they will have ice vibe boots the next day.
 
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