One lame horse, one stiff horse? Advice?

A jelly-like consistency to a swelling typically means there is either an abscess or a hematoma present. These complications are common if the vaccination is not administered meticulously and correctly. This can also mean that the vaccine was not properly absorbed and will be rendered ineffective. So, you should consult with your vet on it. There could be either a sterile abscess from tissue damage done by the vaccine, or septic abscess if pathogenic microbes were introduced. If a blood vessel was ruptured when the vaccination was administered, instead of bleeding diffusely into tissues forming an area of bruising, the immune response may have walled off the bleeding to form a localized pocket of blood called a hematoma. Any disturbance to the immature hematoma can cause it to resume bleeding, enlarging the hematoma.

If your horse is lame, and it was noticed a week ago, it may or may not be related to the crack, and it warrants a veterinary evaluation. Hoof cracks develop from the inside out, and indicate leverage force being placed on the walls as the result of improper balancing of the hooves by whoever is doing the trimming. Research has shown that topical hoof dressings only damage the structural integrity and functions of hooves, and the treatment for cracks is to have the hooves properly trimmed to eliminate the abnormal mechanical forces that overstress the walls.

In the meantime before the vet arrives, you shouldn't treat anything, and don't do any manipulation of the swelling in the neck which can worsen either an abscess or a hematoma. If there is a hematoma in the neck, heat application would increase bleeding, so cold should be applied to reduce bleeding. But if it is an abscess, cold would inhibit the needed immune response, so heat should be applied to increase blood flow to the area and encourage it to absorb or surface.

So, it's best to let your vet make the call on treatments after performing an examination, and my advice is to have your vet come to do an overall evaluation of all of this asap.

Like humans when we have a flu jab it contains a small amount of the virus (it makes the immune system attack it and we become immune to that strain of flu) Ride him out on a hack or light work in the school, getting his blood moving round his system will help work it out of his system.

As for the other horse -get the farrier back out. It he's over trimmed the hoof it can make it brittle, the farrier can tell you the best course of action, you might need different shoes or some sort of filler to fill the crack in with until it can heal. Carr, Day and Martin do a Hoof ointment that helps the hood wall grow quicker and thicker, just rub it in to both front hooves twice a day...it's also really good for your nails and it has the same effect!!

Depending on the size and depth of the crack, it could be a few weeks or a few months...best talk to the farrier.

About your first horse I urge you to call the vet! That could be very serious! And as for the second horse I think you should get the farrier to come check him out and buy some hoof sealer for the crack. Good luck xx

contact vet imeadiately. it could have tetanus