Last night, my daughter, Rosie, phoned from her boarding barn to say her horse, Cricket, had "blown" a heel abscess. The leg above the abscess was stocked up (swollen badly) and Rosie needed some help with doctoring her horse. So she made the twenty minute drive home to come collect me and together, we returned to care for Cricket.
We used an epsom salt and betadine mixture to thoroughly clean and disinfect the wound and Rosie walked Cricket for fifteen or twenty minutes to help reduce the swelling. I then wrapped Cricket's heel with an epsom salt Betadine poultice, bandaging with guaze and Elastikon for a snug, secure fit. I used a compression wrap on the upper leg to help keep the swelling to a minimum.
Early this morning, as I was spinning around knocking off chores and getting ready to head to town for a dental appointment, I heard squealing, the type horses make when they're getting ready to rumble. Looking out, I noticed that Whisper was agitated and pawing the ground -- not a good sign. I swiftly moved to the deck and scanned the pastures. My heart went into overdrive as three horses pounded into view -- Gin, Drifty, and Jetblue. Near the corner, Drifty and Gin spun toward each other, kicking violently. I hollered at them and screamed for Lorenzo.
In a shot, I was through the house and had my boots on. Somehow, Gin had gotten into the mare pasture and he and Drifty were going at it full force. Lorenzo sprinted up to the gate at the same time I did and we saw Irish pounding through the pasture with the other three horses. Gin and Drifty whirled and again came to blows.
Lorenzo grabbed the lunge whip and we worked together to cut Gin out of the herd. Irish charged up and stood next to me for a few seconds before joining up with Drifty and Jetblue. With an evil sidelong stare and a kick, Drifty warned him off. Irish kept a safe distance. Thankfully, Gin had settled enough for me to catch him.
It looked as if the gate had literally been pushed off its hinges. Judging from the way it was bent up, the mares must have taken it down.
We looked over all four horses. Irish and Jetblue were unscathed, but Drifty and Gin both sustained cuts and scrapes. Tonight, Gin has a large hematoma forming. Still, it's minor compared to what might have happened.
I'm thankful that I heard the commotion, that Lorenzo was in earshot and able to come help, that the horses' injuries appear to be minor.
Tonight, Rosie and I were back out at Cricket's barn. The mare's abscess looked great and her leg is not nearly as swollen. Things are looking up, as they always do.
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