Jason Spink Farrier Services

Hi everyone. Had a few lame horses recently due to infections/abscesses. Note not the same as stone bruises. It's that time of year and pretty much just lucky or unlucky. Most of you know I believe it is better to release the infection and poultice. This is so the infection is treated and drawn out through the sole and the animal is in pain for a short time. Rather than it coming out through the coronary band and potentially causing a permanent crack in the hoof. What surprises me is not everyone has the medical equipment on hand or know how to apply a poultice so it stays on. Note poultices should be changed twice daily for maximum effect. In most cases if this is done correctly and the hoof kept clean during this time most infections are gone in 3 to 5 days. Then all is required is a dry wrap to keep the wound clean until healed. Normally less than a week. This also needs to be changed but only daily. All that is needed is 3 things. Animalintex (my favourite is robinsons, blue label), vetinary gamgee (cotton wool in a pad/roll form) and vet wrap. The important part is the animal intex, only needs to be a couple inches square to cover the hole not the whole sole. The video demonstrates application. Not hard and doesn't take long. First the animalintex after it has been dipped in hot water, then a ball of cotton wool to keep the animalintex on the hole (also prevents proud flesh), then the gamgee and then vet wrap. Optional is duct tape over the vet wrap. Helps if they are on stones or anything abrasive that may go through the vet wrap in 12 hours. Always use the whole roll of vet wrap unless it is a foal. The bits left over are normally useless.