Thrush

As a true testimony for how little I have blogged, I don't think I've talked about Leo on the blog much. Leo is an Appendix gelding that we lease. (An Appendix is a cross between a Thoroughbred and a Quarter horse.) Leo is our love. He is such a gentleman. He takes care of me while I am learning to ride and...

He is a great Hunter for Princess, taking her over 2 foot fences. He can't help that he's so adorable!

He has a club foot on his right front and struggles with thrush often when it rains. Since we have been gone over the holidays, the thrush has come back. We went out to the barn yesterday to treat his hooves. There are many ways to treat thrush, but we typically clean his hooves well and then soak them in a bleach and water solution. After the bleach soak, we let his hooves dry while we groom him. Then it's time for a thrush treatment. The brand we currently use is Durasole. It works very well! Typically, one to three treaments like this and his hoof is hard and healing.

He's not particularly thrilled with this routine in the winter because the water is so cold. He was great today though. I think he appreciates the attention.