Ideas for fetlock protection in turnout

[longlanefarm]

Currently I’m using these for my mare:

https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/fetlock-shields-14552?utm_source=cpc&utm_medium=google&utm_content=shopping&utm_campaign=nb_shopping_tes&utm_term=24552&gclid=Cj0KCQiApbzhBRDKARIsAIvZue_TkMgwBuXcgfGeM5MEBh32v0xakVqw2AK3fwt_6DlxGpJg-vShpPoaAuc9EALw_wcB#reviewsTab

They work great and perhaps I just need to get another pair or two to rotate out when cleaning but I thought I’d ask for other ideas before I buy them.

My older mare is really continuously tearing up her front fetlocks when laying down/getting up outside. I only keep her inside during feeding and during inclement weather and she really prefers it that way but of course in her matted and bedded stall this doesn’t happen.
I took them off last night to give her a break as it’s soo muddy lately and this morning she was banged up and bleeding again. I’ve tried wrapping as well but that’s even more of a mess in this rainy/muddy nightmare we’ve had this season. Then I switched to the coban type wrap so I could just throw it away but I don’t know if it’s enough protection.

Other ideas?

[2tempe]

There are various fetlock boots available, but you will end up spending more money on them for possibly less protection. If your current ones work, just get another pair.

[theresak]

I use exactly what you have for the exact same issue. If my horse has a scab or wound on a fetlock, I’ll wrap with a small square of animalintex and elasticon and leave that on for several days with the Fetlock Shields over the top.

[longlanefarm]

@theresak

I use exactly what you have for the exact same issue. If my horse has a scab or wound on a fetlock, I’ll wrap with a small square of animalintex and elasticon and leave that on for several days with the Fetlock Shields over the top.

I’ll be buying another pair. I’m happy with them generally. Thank you for the animalintex idea. Does that help to heal the wounds? Seems like that should be something I am already familiar with but I’m not. I feel like the wounds scab over but then she opens them again and they just never heal!

[Scribbler]

Can you dump a load of sand in a corner of turnout to give her a soft place to roll and sleep?

[theresak]

@longlanefarm

I’ll be buying another pair. I’m happy with them generally. Thank you for the animalintex idea. Does that help to heal the wounds? Seems like that should be something I am already familiar with but I’m not. I feel like the wounds scab over but then she opens them again and they just never heal!

The animalintex provide a bit of extra padding and will help absorb any discharge from the wound. Once it’s dry and very scabbed, I just use elasitkon and leave it on for several days until it’s really dirty or loosing stick. I wrap the fetlock (once around with elastikon) until the hair has grown back over the wound, otherwise he keeps scraping the scab off, even with the fetlock boots. If it’s super muddy, I might take the fetlock boots off for a day since there’s no chance of him finding any firm ground to scrape them on again.

[ryansgirl]

Upside down bell boots. Just put them on so the bottoms are on top - this works. My mare wears them like this when the ground is hard otherwise she gets open sores from laying down and getting back up.

This seriously works :)!

[theresak]

@ryansgirl

Upside down bell boots. Just put them on so the bottoms are on top - this works. My mare wears them like this when the ground is hard otherwise she gets open sores from laying down and getting back up.

This seriously works :)!

I gave this a try but they weren’t tall enough and ended up with the edge of the bell boot right at the middle of the fetlock sore.

[IPEsq]

I care for a mare who does this. I use a hydrophilic foam dressing underneath Elastikon. The foam keeps the scab cycle from happening for the most part (occasionally she manages to somehow reopen one anyway by loosening the bandage), and so it stays moist and heals while the foam absorbs extra serum/oozing. Once (if?) hair grows back, then we try the fetlock shields, regular wraps (when inside), or I just put on Elastikon without anything underneath–maybe at most a bit of cotton there instead of the more expensive foam. I haven’t found a place to bulk order this foam dressing but luckily one of the local farm stores sells it, and I can usually get 2-4 applications out of one square in the package–cut down to fit.

[lightningevent]

My horse had some serious summer sores on his fetlock this summer, and I used the upside down bell boot method mentioned above, however, the only bell boots that worked for it were these (https://www.horze.com/over-reach-boots/horze-probell-boots/19764.html?color=B), in extra large. They’ve actually worn surprisingly well.

[banmharcach]

@theresak

I gave this a try but they weren’t tall enough and ended up with the edge of the bell boot right at the middle of the fetlock sore.

I used ribbed gum rubber bell boots–one up/one down–hourglass style. That kept the upper boot high enough to protect a fetlock wound while the lower boot was just the usual 24/7 attire to keep shoes intact.