All You Need is Duct Tape and a Diaper

So said my vet as he finished draining Khrysta's hoof abscess. "Just soak the hoof twice a day for 15 minutes and then wrap it up. The easiest thing to do is use a disposable diaper to wrap the hoof and then duct tape it." Duct tape and diapers. Not the first thing that comes to mind but, hey, I've been missing that time of my life so what the heck. Horse, baby, whatever. I'll just enjoy the experience of having tiny diapers in the house even if it is for a 1,000 pound equine.

Off Mountain Man went to the drugstore to purchase the needed supplies. I was very explicit with my instructions. "Buy newborn diapers, not those toddler things; newborn or preemie diapers. Remember her hoof is about the size of a newborn baby's bottom. And, if you can find ones with pink on it, that's even better. Maybe flowers or Disney characters. They didn't have those when my son was young and I'd love to have a chance to use them."

Mountain Man gave me a strange look but never one to shirk any assigned task, off he went.

I had visions of him standing in a vast aisle of baby supplies looking lost and a clerk asking him if he needed help. I can hear it now.

"May I help you?"

"Yes, I'm looking for small baby diapers, preferably ones with pink on them."

"How old is your little girl?"

"Well, she's about 4 but her foot is about the size of a newborn baby's butt."

"Foot? You do know you don't put diapers on the foot?"

"Of course I know that. It's for my wife's horse and she wants fancy diapers, pink she said. She's very fussy about her horse."

My brave Mountain Man returned with my adorable little diapers. (Kind of makes me want to hear more than the pitter patter of giant hooves but alas at this stage of my life, that will have to do.)

I assembled my supplies, including a fancy soaking bucket just for hooves and I was all set to get on with it. After all the vet made it look easy.

But, I soon discovered a very stubborn Morgan mare with a bruised foot has other ideas. Here are some of the photos as I struggled.

The necessary diapers, cotton balls, vet wrap and the duct tape.
The soaking boot made especially for hooves.
Filled with betadine and mixed exactly as I'd been told.
But the vet had duct taped her hoof and I couldn't get the blasted stuff off so I just pulled the duct tape up over her hoof and proceeded to stick it all in the bucket.

Mountain Man, seeing me struggle, reluctantly decided to help. He tried cutting the old duct tape off with his trusty knife.
And kept on trying.

And tried some more.
Finally, he got it off mumbling something about "hay burners and all the trouble they cause." He then made a hasty exit leaving me to deal with my cranky mare.

But, I did manage to get her hoof in the soaking bucket and hastily grab the camera before she bolted.

My efforts to wrap her hoof in her adorable baby diapers was quite a struggle. Just me and the equally determiend Khrysta who decided she was done cooperating.

To Be Continued: Will Khrysta give in and wear her pink flowered diapers? Will Mountain Woman get kicked by her moody mare? Will Mountain Man ever show his face at the drugstore again?

Stay tuned for the continuing saga of hay burners and hoof abscesses on Red Pine Mountain.