Icing Freedom’s leg is part of the protocol for getting down the swelling. Effective icing doesn’t require much fancy equipment. A pack of frozen peas and a polo wrap do just fine.

I’ve gone upscale and use a pack of synthetic peas. The pack stays more flexible, which makes it easier to get it to conform to your horse’s leg.

When it’s cold enough out, I just leave my ice packs outside. Of course, when there’s snow you have to remember where you put them!

The regime seems to be helping. After two days of wrapping and icing, the swelling in his leg has gone down considerably — although it would likely come back if he wasn’t wrapped.

I suppose the good news is that we had nearly another foot of snow on Friday — that means that he gets some natural icing just standing out in the field.

He still shows no sign of lameness,

which is good. And he’s staying pretty quiet.