PG . 19
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO COOL THE FEET :
• PLASTIC BAGS – at least 3 litre capacity , put the feet in the bags and pour crushed ice into the bag , sprinkle with salt , attach with a bandage around the knee or hocks .
• DIG A HOLE - in the stall , line it with plastic , put in some dirt over the top and kept the hole filled with ice water – fine if the horse stands still .
• BOOTS – use rubber or plastic to make a boot . Take the “ Y “ hose from a washing machine and reverse it with the appropriate coupler so that a garden hose feeds the boots on both front / back legs at the same time . Using a section of truck inner tubing , cut to the appropriate size , creating a “ U ” shape with one of the horse ’ s leg in the one side and the other side bandaged or tied at the top to the cannon bone . As long as the horse doesn ’ t move around it stays in place . The hose is run in the side where the leg is .
• Commercially available wader-style boot modified to include the hoof will do the trick , as will a rubber ice boot to just below the knee and hock . Cold gel-wraps and ice packs don ’ t provide enough cooling . Iced-water immersion is necessary . Standing the horse in sand will support the sole and allow the toe to sink so the heels are elevated , reducing the pull of the tendons on the bones in the hoof ( Figure 3 .).
The water doesn ’ t need to be flowing very fast to keep the legs cold enough . This is also good nursing if the horse has a concurrent fever .
• A 5 litre fluid bag secured with duct tape or any bag that will hold an ice slurry around the lower limbs and hooves is enough to cool the legs ( Figure 2 .). The ice-water slurry should be refilled with ice every 2 hours as needed .
FIGURE 3 . SAND BEDDING www . jenquine . com
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER ISSUE 2020