To ride or not to ride - with an abscess?

NewtoMules · 06-03-2008, 07:11 PM

The farrier came out today and my new girl has an abscess. She went lame 3 day ago. I have her on bute now and she is sound and happy as can be.

However, the farrier could not drain the abscess. He said it is too deep and there were no drain lines. He did find the tender spot close to the front of the hoof about 1/2" from the hoof wall. She was fine until he used the hoof testers and then she pulled back.

I am soaking and packing her hoof and she is still on bute. My farrier felt that it was okay to ride so long as she is sound on the bute.

What do you all think? Is it okay to ride or not?

I hate to let her sit when it could take WEEKS for this think to blow out

She is a greenie and in training. I worry that taking an extended break could set her back, but I also don't want to do anything harmful.

Thanks.

Princelover101 · 06-03-2008, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewtoMules

The farrier came out today and my new girl has an abscess. She went lame 3 day ago. I have her on bute now and she is sound and happy as can be.

However, the farrier could not drain the abscess. He said it is too deep and there were no drain lines. He did find the tender spot close to the front of the hoof about 1/2" from the hoof wall. She was fine until he used the hoof testers and then she pulled back.

I am soaking and packing her hoof and she is still on bute. My farrier felt that it was okay to ride so long as she is sound on the bute.

What do you all think? Is it okay to ride or not?

I hate to let her sit when it could take WEEKS for this think to blow out

She is a greenie and in training. I worry that taking an extended break could set her back, but I also don't want to do anything harmful.

Thanks.

I personally wouldn't ride her but if you rode her it may blow out but whatever your gut tells you

knpaints · 06-03-2008, 07:16 PM

i dont know about riding..but ive always been told that for an abcess that keeping them moving is the best thing..
i think light riding would be ok also. obviously if the horse is really showing pain that might be a good idea..but other wise i dont see why not?
im sure everyone will have different ideas..just goin by what my farrier, and vets have told me

cloudyandcallie · 06-03-2008, 07:23 PM

no
wait till it heals. if you ride with bute, you risk bruising the hoof. and what if the abscess gets worse/infection etc?
If you must ride, walk her around a ring on flat ground, no roots, pavement rocks, etc.

Crookedblaze · 06-03-2008, 07:28 PM

Yeah, I'd say not ride her. Better safe then sorry

pennyrain · 06-03-2008, 07:35 PM

My vet has advised against giving bute to a horse with an abcess so I think that would rule out riding as well.

MsNickie · 06-03-2008, 07:47 PM

Even if you decide to not ride, you could still do groundwork with her.

NewtoMules · 06-03-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pennyrain

My vet has advised against giving bute to a horse with an abcess so I think that would rule out riding as well.

Wouldn't that be painful, though? Is this before or after it drains?

My vet always recommends 2 grams per day for a bruise or an abscess. I would assume bute isn't needed after an abscess drains, though.

NewtoMules · 06-03-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsNickie

Even if you decide to not ride, you could still do groundwork with her.

Yes, you are right! I have been doing that for the past few days. She is starting to get pretty good at squaring up

ToveroMom · 06-03-2008, 09:16 PM

Ever get an infected toenail?
Would you like to be ridden by someone while walking on one of those?

paintsgalore · 06-03-2008, 09:31 PM

In my humble personal opinion, in the same situation I would just do as MsNickie and probably just work on groundwork. That can ALWAYS use some tuning up. Good luck with your girl.

pennyrain · 06-04-2008, 11:23 PM

As I understand it, my vet wants the horse with an abcess to move around but protect it's compromised hoof. There is a reason for pain-it makes you pay attention to an injury, protect the injured area and not make it worse.

Nor Cal Farrier · 06-04-2008, 11:55 PM

The last time I gave my opinion on this subject I got blasted, so I'm putting on my fire suit.

I don't like to give horses bute for abscesses. Pain is natures way of saying the area needs protection. Hard as it may be to see your horse hurting, I usually wrap the foot up in Icthemal to help soften the foot and allow the abscess to work it's way out. Light ground work to keep them moving is okay unless they are really head bobbing crippled. Sometimes it's better to not interfere with Mother Nature and let some things run their course. Softening the hoof will help speed this along without the possibility of doing more (unintentional) damage.

NewtoMules · 06-05-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nor Cal Farrier

The last time I gave my opinion on this subject I got blasted, so I'm putting on my fire suit.

I don't like to give horses bute for abscesses. Pain is natures way of saying the area needs protection. Hard as it may be to see your horse hurting, I usually wrap the foot up in Icthemal to help soften the foot and allow the abscess to work it's way out. Light ground work to keep them moving is okay unless they are really head bobbing crippled. Sometimes it's better to not interfere with Mother Nature and let some things run their course. Softening the hoof will help speed this along without the possibility of doing more (unintentional) damage.

No blasting from here! I have heard quite a few people say no bute. I am going to stop the bute as of today and see if she stays sound. My vet thinks it is just a bruise since she is sound and if it were an abscess, she would have gotten worse. So, we'll see how she does tomorrow after not having any bute. If it is just a bruise, I'm assuming she will stay sound, even off the bute since it has been 6 days of treatment.

ahorseofcourse · 06-06-2008, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewtoMules

My farrier felt that it was okay to ride so long as she is sound on the bute.

Since the bute is taking away her pain, she can hurt herself further by being ridden and not being able to feel when she is in pain. I've dealt with lots of horses with abscesses, and none were ever worked. Daily soaking, packing, and wrapping until they were all better.

GottaRide · 06-06-2008, 12:43 PM

I have ridden a horse with an abcess before and there were no concerns from vet or farrier. I used a hoof boot on the affected hoof, gave the horse some bute for the ride and off we went.

I've also let a horse sit for a month to let an abcess work it's way out. He was given bute for the first week or so and had his hoof soaked at least 20 mins per day. He also wore a boot out in the pasture for protection from frozen poopy turds (this was the middle of winter).

Both were young horses in training.

Use your judgement. No decision is going to 100% right or 100% wrong. Riding the horse will not have a prolonged effect.

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06-03-2008, 07:11 PM
NewtoMules Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 436	To ride or not to ride - with an abscess? The farrier came out today and my new girl has an abscess. She went lame 3 day ago. I have her on bute now and she is sound and happy as can be. However, the farrier could not drain the abscess. He said it is too deep and there were no drain lines. He did find the tender spot close to the front of the hoof about 1/2" from the hoof wall. She was fine until he used the hoof testers and then she pulled back. I am soaking and packing her hoof and she is still on bute. My farrier felt that it was okay to ride so long as she is sound on the bute. What do you all think? Is it okay to ride or not? I hate to let her sit when it could take WEEKS for this think to blow out She is a greenie and in training. I worry that taking an extended break could set her back, but I also don't want to do anything harmful. Thanks. __________________ "Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses." - Elizabeth Taylor http://outofshaperider.blogspot.com

06-03-2008, 07:16 PM
knpaints Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 941	i dont know about riding..but ive always been told that for an abcess that keeping them moving is the best thing.. i think light riding would be ok also. obviously if the horse is really showing pain that might be a good idea..but other wise i dont see why not? im sure everyone will have different ideas..just goin by what my farrier, and vets have told me __________________ Kris~

06-03-2008, 07:23 PM
cloudyandcallie Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Vernon River East Coast Posts: 148	no no wait till it heals. if you ride with bute, you risk bruising the hoof. and what if the abscess gets worse/infection etc? If you must ride, walk her around a ring on flat ground, no roots, pavement rocks, etc.

06-03-2008, 07:28 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,360	Yeah, I'd say not ride her. Better safe then sorry __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

06-03-2008, 07:35 PM
pennyrain Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: minnesota Posts: 673	My vet has advised against giving bute to a horse with an abcess so I think that would rule out riding as well.

06-03-2008, 07:47 PM
MsNickie Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 174	Even if you decide to not ride, you could still do groundwork with her.

06-03-2008, 09:16 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,296	Ever get an infected toenail? Would you like to be ridden by someone while walking on one of those? __________________ "In America,anyone can be President. That is one of the chances you take" Adlai Stevenson

06-03-2008, 09:31 PM
paintsgalore Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arundel, Quebec, Canada Posts: 20	In my humble personal opinion, in the same situation I would just do as MsNickie and probably just work on groundwork. That can ALWAYS use some tuning up. Good luck with your girl.

06-04-2008, 11:23 PM
pennyrain Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: minnesota Posts: 673	As I understand it, my vet wants the horse with an abcess to move around but protect it's compromised hoof. There is a reason for pain-it makes you pay attention to an injury, protect the injured area and not make it worse.

06-04-2008, 11:55 PM
Nor Cal Farrier Halter broke Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Wilseyville, CA Posts: 176	The last time I gave my opinion on this subject I got blasted, so I'm putting on my fire suit. I don't like to give horses bute for abscesses. Pain is natures way of saying the area needs protection. Hard as it may be to see your horse hurting, I usually wrap the foot up in Icthemal to help soften the foot and allow the abscess to work it's way out. Light ground work to keep them moving is okay unless they are really head bobbing crippled. Sometimes it's better to not interfere with Mother Nature and let some things run their course. Softening the hoof will help speed this along without the possibility of doing more (unintentional) damage. __________________ www.freewebs.com/countrymile/

06-06-2008, 12:43 PM
GottaRide Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: WI Posts: 230	I have ridden a horse with an abcess before and there were no concerns from vet or farrier. I used a hoof boot on the affected hoof, gave the horse some bute for the ride and off we went. I've also let a horse sit for a month to let an abcess work it's way out. He was given bute for the first week or so and had his hoof soaked at least 20 mins per day. He also wore a boot out in the pasture for protection from frozen poopy turds (this was the middle of winter). Both were young horses in training. Use your judgement. No decision is going to 100% right or 100% wrong. Riding the horse will not have a prolonged effect. __________________ www.cedarviewpainthorses.blogspot.com Home of ~ Perfect Jin N Scotch - 2004 APHA Palomino Overo Gelding Hanks Rainy Sky - 1998 Black & White Tobiano Gelding