Horse Health: Thrush

After the flooding earlier in the month, my horse got a terrible case of thrush (he was 3-legged lame). The farrier checked him for any bruising or abscesses (none, just nasty, stinky black goo). When my trainer called, I knew I was just about out of Thrush Buster, and I wouldn't have time to go get any before I had to go get the kids from school. I did a quick Google and found that some people swear by bleach (half & half with water) and some by iodine. Both sides swear at each other. I found a variant of the iodine treatment – sugardine. Sugardine is Betadine or Povodine mixed with sugar until it forms a paste. I grabbed my mobile and called Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. They came down on the sugardine side of the debate. So what I did was to clean out his hoof, wash it with water and Epsom salts, dry it with a paper towel, pack it with sugardine and cotton balls, cover it with a diaper (size 6), then duct tape the diaper to his hoof. I did this for two days. The third day (Saturday), he was no longer lame. I soaked his frog in Betadine and turned him out. His regular vet checked him on Monday and he looked good. This treatment works great as long as it is only thrush. If your horse is lame, have your farrier or vet check to make sure there are no bruises or abscesses.

Trainer Profile: Barbara Jacobs

Barbara Jacobs is the head trainer at Blue Ribbon Meadows, located just off Katy Hockley Cutoff in Katy. She's been showing jumpers, eventers and dressage horses since the '70s (I, myself, have been riding with Barb since 1991). I caught up with Barb and asked her a few questions:

NN: What are the three things you like most about your job?

BJ: The animals, and people are my family, I love to work outside, and I learn new things every day.

NN: How did you get where you are? Did you always have a plan to do what you're doing now, or did life take you on a detour?

BJ: I have always wanted to do what I am doing. Without a doubt, teaching is my love, second only to the horses. I have been detoured many times, as this is a job of love not money (but have only done the detour jobs to keep the horses going).

NN: What are your top three goals for the next five years?

BJ: Get more fit again, that has really slacked off; spend more time on me, something I long ago gave up; and try to have even a little savings of which I have none.

NN: What are the top three traits you look for when you want to purchase a horse for yourself?

BJ: A horse for myself, well the eyes have it! I may watch them go, take a little ride, an over all view of the horse, but the eyes can tell me yes or no right away...

NN: What is one thing that you have never done, but would like to try?

BJ: I would Love to try Emergency room nursing in trauma