This article has been edited and approved by
Karen Coumbe MRCVS , H&H’s veterinary advisor since 1991.
Being able to apply a hoof poultice is a key part of good horse husbandry, so we caught up with Dr Stuart Thorne MRCVS to get some expert tips
When you’re trying to work out how to poultice a horse’s hoof, quite often the most difficult thing is that you’re doing it on your own. The horse is tied up and you haven’t got enough hands to get everything together and you’re desperately trying to keep the foot clean too.
I’ve watched a client struggling to get a poultice on — they’d got the poultice in place and the cohesive bandage (eg: vet wrap) on top. They were struggling to get the hard-wearing 10cm-wide outer cloth tape (eg: Duck tape) on to protect the dressing. The horse was on a shavings bed and every time they dropped the tape it picked up all the bedding making it impossible to use.
Top tip number 1: before you begin, create a criss-cross square of cloth tape and tack it on to your stable door or wall so it’s within easy reach. Then once you have the poultice and bandage on, all you need to do is apply the whole square to the base of the hoof rather than struggling with a roll of tape.
{"content":"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"}
You might also be interested in…
Ricky Farr MRCVS gives some helpful tips on how to keep your horse’s hooves healthy through the winter with some
An abscess in the hoof can be excruciatingly painful for the horse but this common problem is normally quite straightforward
Credit: Bob Atkins
If you're unsure about what you should have in your horse’s first aid kit, then we are here to help...
Horse owners and vets face difficult decisions everyday. Vet Roger Lee lists the toughest choices an owner will ever have
All horse owners should know how to take their horse’s temperature.
Credit: Jo Prestwich
MA VetMB CertEP CertVA MRCVS
Our equine veterinary expert has more than 30 years experience in practice. She is an FEI vet and has attended the past three Olympic and two World Equestrian Games in her role. She has a particular interest in anaesthesia, pre-purchase examinations, ophthalmology and dermatology amongst other clinical concerns. She has been Horse & Hound’s official veterinary advisor since 1991. Karen is part of the Bell Equine team.
