Blew. Rhymes with “Ewww.”

I arrived at the barn tonight shortly after the horses were brought in, and was greeted by the sight of a dripping, muddy Derby – apparently, he had been frolicking in the goo right before he was brought in. Once of the girls told me that he had been running around.  “Decidedly un-Derby-like behavior,” I mused to myself, “Wonder if that abscess blew?”

I didn’t need to look closely to know the answer,  because in addition to standing happily in deep shavings on his ouchy foot, a tell-tale odor emanated from him.  Abscesses are stinky, and this one was particularly foul.

I cleaned up the leg and had a look.   An icky wound oozing pus now graced Derby’s magically deflated right heel bulb.   It’s still tender, and he didn’t appreciate my cleaning it, but we got the job done.  Due to the muddy conditions, he’s staying inside for a few days to give it the chance to heal.  But hopefully, we’ll soon be back in business, and back in the saddle.