The Best Horse Owner

After our July War Horse, WallE and I returned to the farm for some much needed rest and relaxation. My riders had a horse show the following weekend and I was helping them prepare. While at War Horse, a set of Shoofly boots arrived for WallE. I thought...I am just the best horse owner, now when he stands in the pasture he will not have to stomp his feet to get rid of the flies. He seemed to like the boots and they seemed to do their job. 

I went away for one night (Friday - Saturday) and the boots stayed on. He was out in the pasture, so it made sense. When I went to ride on Sunday, I noticed that he seemed to have a carpet burn like mark on his back right coronet band. So I removed the boots, put some cream on the leg and left it at that. On Monday morning, a student rode him for their lesson (the leg was fine). 

On Monday evening, the leg had swollen to the hock and was hot to the touch. I poultice and wrapped the leg and gave WallE some bute. Tuesday the leg was not better and WallE had his first emergency vet visit in over a year. He was diagnosed with cellulitis due to scratches and given some antibiotics. That Friday, the regular vet visited to check another horse and gave him the all clear to be ridden. 

I rode WallE that evening and then left for the weekend. Monday, we rode as normal and had a great lesson over simple jumps. That week we practiced the jump course once and had a few flat rides. However, the following Thursday his other hind leg became swollen. Friday the vet came out for the second emergency visit in three weeks. She said the leg was a result of scratches, trotted him and found him sound. She noticed a summer sore on the front leg and left instructions for wrapping and treating. 

Five days later (yesterday), the front leg became swollen. I am cold hosing, wrapping and praying it goes away. At this point three of WallE's four legs have had problems in just a few weeks and I am going crazy. Do I blame myself for trying to make his life fly free? Maybe. Will I ever buy fly boots again for any reason? No.