Reduce Pain, Swelling, and Soreness with Poultice for Horses
Poultice for horses is a great way to draw out bruises and abscesses and reduce swelling from injuries or after a hard workout. Horse poultices can be applied to the legs and joints like the ankles, knees, hocks, stifles, and soles of the feet. Some horses even enjoy poultices being used along their back or hips. Poultices can be brushed off once dried, or easily rinsed off, making it a great choice that doesn’t stain the hair.
Most poultice products are made from natural clays that cool, reduce inflammation, and draw out swelling. Some poultice products feature additional ingredients like Arnica to target soreness and help relieve pain. Many poultices can even be used on sensitive skin or over areas like scratches, cracked heels, and abrasions.
Hoof packing products and Epsom salt poultices are also very popular to pack in the bottom of horses’ hooves to reduce foot soreness and bruising or help draw out abscesses. Using poultice paper can help keep your poultice damp while also preventing any bandages from getting dirty.
Learn more by reading our blog: Hoof Packing: To Pack or Not to Pack.
Frequently Asked Questions About Poultice for Horses
What does poultice do for horses?
Poultice for horses utilizes natural clays to cool, reduce swelling and soreness, and relieve tired muscles wherever the poultice for horses is applied.
When should I poultice my horse?
You can poultice your horse anytime they have a hard workout, show any signs of swelling or soreness, over scratches and cracked heels, and at the first sign of a hoof abscess or stone bruise in their hoof. Poultices for horses can offer great benefits while being very easy to use, affordable, and with natural ingredients like clays or arnica.
How to apply horse poultice?
To apply horse poultice, you have a few options depending on the issue and area you are working with. If you apply a poultice to the horse’s legs, you can smooth the poultice all over the area giving it a nice thick coverage. While you can leave the poultice that way, allowing it to dry, and then simply brush it off the next day, or you can use poultice paper and a standing wrap. If you want to wrap the legs, you can get poultice paper damp and then wrap one layer around the leg, making sure you cover all of the wet poultices. Then, apply your standing wrap or bandage as normal. The poultice paper helps prevent the poultice from soaking into the bandage or getting your wraps extra dirty. The next day, remove the wrap, throw the paper away, and either brush off the dried poultice or hose it off. If you are using poultice on a hoof, you can smear a thick layer into the sole or heels, cut out a circle of poultice paper to apply on the bottom of the hoof, and then wrap the hoof as you normally would with some type of a flexible self-adhesive wrap or Vet Wrap.
How long should I poultice hoof abscess?
You can poultice a hoof abscess every day until the abscess has come to the surface and your horse is no longer in pain. This may take a few days, but using a poultice for horses, hoof poultice, or hoof packings can greatly speed up the process of drawing out a stubborn and painful hoof abscess, giving your horse relief even faster than without the use of a poultice. Epsom salt poultices are especially helpful and draw out abscesses.
