I went out to ride Malibu today and she was dead lame on her left hind. She wouldn't put any weight on her foot and looked pitiful. I went to pull her out and take her to the cross ties and she was screaming her head off at me when she saw me. I was a bad horse mom and didn't have time to visit her this weekend. There is NO heat in any of her legs so we're treating her like it's an abscess until the vet comes out Fri or Mon. I know she is miserable and I feel pretty bummed out for her. This is our last few weeks of riding until next March and she has been going along so well lately. I'm PRAYING it's an abscess and not something else. I'm like 98% sure it is an abscess, but there is always that what if it's something else. She was a good girl and let me soak her hoof with epsom salt and took her 2g of bute like an old timer. I think that is the first time I've had to give her bute. 

   Okay, now on to the question. If this is an abscess and I get it healed, is there a way to prevent them? This is the first horse I have had out of three to actually get an abscess. She was trimmed last Monday and we had a huge rain storm for 3 days, so there has been plenty of mud and goop everywhere. That was the worst storm we have had in 5 years. Her paddock has had a week to dry out and is no longer muddy at all. Thanks for listening to me vent. I am soo bummed.....and worried about her.  ..................This is why were getting insurance for her next month. It will give me a piece of mind knowing I can help her if it isn't an abscess.

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that Mailbu is lame. I hope it is an abscess and not something more serious!

I've never heard of how to prevent an abscess -- actually, I'm not sure if there is a way (??). But, as I replied to another post, I just recently was told about this stuff called White Lightning that's supposed to be the absolute best stuff for abscesses, white line disease, and thrush. I've never used it, but the guy at the feed store (who is a font of knowledge and only carries the best stuff possible) was telling me about it and it sounds very promising. Here's the website for it -- http://www.grandcircuitinc.com/products.asp?cat=57

 Lol, I feel like a "pusher" for this stuff, even though I have nothing to do with the company and have never tried it. I just really trust the opinion of the guy at the feed store. Plus, the product sounds interesting. It's supposedly the same chemcial that was used to eliminate Anthrax in government buildings, as it's antifungal, antisporicidal and antibacterial. Might be worth a shot.

Good luck with Malibu! Please keep us posted. (And, yes, insurance is a very good idea!)

I gotta say this seems to be the major year for abscesses, soft soles and serious WLD (white line disease).

I will stand corrected, but it seems the bulk of the horses who have suffered these issues are out 24/7.  There's not one thing wrong with that except when it's been raining almost non-stop and their hooves don't have a chance to dry out where the soft soles and white line are concerned.

My four come in every night which gives their hooves a chance to dry.  I also carefully pick hooves on rainy days and/or 2 or 3 times a week rain or no rain.

By carefully, I mean I listen for any sound that resembles the pick scraping against the tiniest piece of stone.  I have pulled tiny pieces of stone out that I would never have realized were stone bits had I not heard them scrape against the hoof pick.  That means no radio blasting in your ears while you're hoof-picking

Even allowing a horse's hooves ample drying time in a stall and careful/frequent picking can't always prevent an abcess, but every little bit helps.

If a horse is prone to have weak/shelly/soft hooves, thus being more susceptible to abscess & other things, adding a hoof & coat supplement might also help, but the bottom line is to be diligent in picking their hooves and then hold your breath----------------