[Derek O’Toole]

I am not sure of the context of this excerpt, but it would appear to be referring to the standardbred horse either at the pacing or trotting gait. Standardbreds historically and at present only compete at the distance of 1 mile. The eight being referred to is 1/8th of a mile. If they were “trotting eights at a two-minute gait” they were doing 1/8th of a mile in 15 seconds. There was a time in the past that the two minute mile was the barrier and took some years to overcome. The world record was just set on October 2016 in KY paced at 1:46 flat!(13.25 second eights)

[Derek O’Toole]

Hi Jared,
I have treated many of these abscesses over the years on both light and heavy horses.
I usual start treatment just like your approach with soaking in Epsom salts to help draw the abcess out and soften up the coronary band tissue (the warmer the water the better). A few more soaks after it ruptures doesn’t hurt either. It is best to be thorough while the wound is new, you don’t want to trap any of the infection if the wound begins to heal at the surface. If the horse isn’t bare foot I would pull the shoe and attempt to find the origin without being overly invasive. In my experience I have only seen them track up through the white line even along the bars. If I do find the entry on the sole I will sometimes back flush the cavity with hydrogen peroxide or another appropriate solution with a 412 type syringe. You know you got it when the solution comes running out of the coronary band exit wound. I will then apply a layer of Icthammol just around the coronary band, which I wrap with heavy paper and then vet wrap. Whatever will hold it in place.
If the abscess comes out at the coronary band it has traveled quite a long way and has done some damage to the lamina on its travels. The longer it has festered the more damage caused. Once it has ruptures I typical see the horse improve about 75% immediately. The next 25% can be a little slow but they all seem to come around. I have heard a hundred ways of dealing with “gravels” but this method has worked for me.
Good luck.
-Derek

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