A few days before being transported to the AQHA World Show, a 2-year-old gelding Halter Horse experienced trauma to the right knee and the left hind fetlock. Before being transported, there was a small amount of swelling on the right knee and a laceration on the lateral side of the left hind fetlock but there was no evidence of swelling or drainage. After making the 2-day haul from New Jersey to Oklahoma City, it was noticed that the left hind fetlock was significantly enlarged with swelling up to the distal tarsal area and purulent discharge from the open wound.

The fetlock was hot to the touch and very painful. The horse exhibited a grade 4/5 lameness, his WBC was 18,000, but temperature was normal. Due to the severity of the lameness and the cellulitis present, it was unlikely that he would be able to compete. Strict AQHA drug regulations mandated careful scrutiny on the drugs of choice for the therapeutic regimen.

The horse was administered an antibiotic, Ceftiofur, Butazolidin, and Dexamethsone sodium phosphate following AQHA guidelines. The Game Ready™ Equine cold and compression therapy was applied for 30 minutes, 2 times a day until the morning of the show (3 days).

After the third day of treatment, the horse no longer experienced heat, pain, or swelling in the left hind fetlock, and was sound with no evidence of lameness. The horse was able to successfully compete in the 2-year-old AQHA World Show Amateur Halter Class and finished 8th overall. I feel that the Game Ready Equine cold and compression therapy was a significant contributing factor in the successful return of the horse to the show arena.

Joseph H. Boecker, D.V.M.
Interstate Equine Services, Inc.