Shoe boil on horse without shoes???

[Hermein]

Sigh. Big, cranky horse who has never, ever worn shoes has developed a shoe boil on his left front leg at the usual (?) spot. In the 10 + years he’s been with us, I have never seen him lying down in a posture that would cause this. However…according to several web experts, you’re first of all supposed to stop the irritation that caused the shoe boil in the first place—they didn’t say how you make sure you’ve got the donut thing on the proper back foot–assuming that a front foot wouldn’t cause this on another front leg. Nor did experts say how to keep the device in place. (Are the donut things available on line?) Big, cranky horse is not amenable to having anything touch his rear legs/feet, btw.

Thanks for any guidance,

[Highflyer]

Often they are caused by the foot on the injured leg. Yes you can buy a boot online, or just wrap the foot well. Try also adding extra bedding. http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Shoe_Boil_Boot/descpage-SBB.html

[newhorsemommy]

My barefoot gelding developed a shoe boil last summer from a front hoof. It was just the way he was tucking the front feet under him. I assume it’s related to his injury/arthritis and how he positions himself and gets up and down. I put bell boots on his fronts for a couple of weeks and that largely resolved it. It went down in size and now I just keep an eye on it. If it gets larger again, the bell boots will go back on.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

A friend of mine has a gelding that will get shoe boils on both elbows even barefoot Both of his eventually opened up and drained. The shoe boil boot does help.

[JB]

@Hermein

Big, cranky horse is not amenable to having anything touch his rear legs/feet, btw.

How do his feet get trimmed?

Yes, do the donut. I’m assuming this is on/near his elbow? That’s the usual spot And yes, it’s usually the foot on the same leg, so in this case you wouldn’t have to deal with putting a donut on a hind leg

[Hermein]

How do his feet get trimmed?

With greatest difficulty! He has tolerated only one trimmer, ever. Unfortunately, the tolerable trimmer lives 150 miles away. The poor guy who attempts it now has to have me pick up the foot, then he (trimmer) slides around behind me and takes the foot, and quickly snips the excess horn while I’m still standing there, pretending to hold the foot… I have done some of the trimming with my husband holding the horse–usually I do most of the work with the rasp. It’s tough to do, even if the hoof is soaked first. Ridiculous.

I think the horse is vastly entertained by what he puts us through. :yes:

Thanks for all your suggestions.

[CFFarm]

More bedding?
Wrap the foot itself?
Wear a soft boot?

[purplnurpl]

The shoe boil is caused by the front foot of the elbow the boil is on.
try big bell boots too.

My horse kept getting them in the summer. Twice had it opened and a drain was put in.
it finally stopped coming back.