Recently, one of the horses in the EasyCare family tore her extensor tendon. Part of the treatment prescribed by the veterinarian was icing it for 30 minutes each day. This vet said studies have shown that an ice-water bath is the best way to cool down the tissue, and that it takes 30 minutes for the tissue to cool down enough to decrease inflammation to the point of healing.
EasyCare just released a new product, the Easyboot Remedy, that would be perfect in this situation. Unfortunately, this particular horse had not yet been trained to wear something like the Remedy without panicking. As she is now injured, this is not the best time to teach her to wear a Remedy boot. We don’t want to create a situation where she could potentially further injure herself.
As horse owners, it is our responsibility to prepare our horses to safely handle situations like this one. Are your horses trained to handle some of these unexpected or emergency situations?
Are you prepared for a torn extensor tendon or an abscess, or to soak your horse’s hoof for any reason?
Has your horse ever had a foot in a bucket, soaking boot, or something similar?
Is your horse comfortable with being sprayed by a hose, as well as the sound and feel of ice?
Has your horse ever had one of its leg wrapped up and put in a boot?
Do you use boots as a “spare tire” for a lost shoe?
Have you ever tried the boot on and used it before it is urgently needed?
Is your horse used to and comfortable with using a boot?
Are you comfortable applying a boot in less-than-ideal circumstances?
Can your horse handle being out and about around new people and other horses?
Is your horse comfortable with being handled by other people, such as a veterinarian or veterinary technician?
Will your horse load into a variety of trailers and unload without issue?
If you’re at an event with your horse, and there’s an injury or a colic situation, your horse may need to be trailed back to camp in an unfamiliar trailer.
In the event of a fire or other emergency evacuation situation, you’ll want your horse to be able to load into any trailer quickly and without fuss.
It can save you and your horse a lot of stress and frustration to work on some of these scenarios when it’s not urgent or even necessary. Have you ever been in a situation where you thanked yourself for taking the time previously to train your horse to be ready for it?
