What's this sore, crusty lump on my horse's leg near its hoof?

I can’t be sure from the photo but this looks like a fungal or bacterial infection. Horses often get this from irritation and moisture. I recommend scrubbing the affected areas twice daily with iodine based shampoo, or another anti bacterial and fungal shampoo. Scrubbing the skin to remove the scales and debris will make it look more inflammed but will let the air get to the skin and speed healing. If this hasn’t cleared up in a week or two then please get a veterinary exam. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Diamond.

Even though a picture would help to understand better the underlying cause, this presentation could be due to a localized persistent spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry to hear this happened to Cody. It does sound like it may be an abscess. Sidebone rarely causes lameness so I doubt it is that. Ringbone is a possibility depending on where the swelling is located (front of the hoof, one of the sides or over the heels); this swelling is usually very firm to the touch. You just said there is a lump above the coronet but not where on the foot so that makes it harder for me to be helpful. If you want to post again with a photo we may be able to assist you better. Regardless of the cause, I suggest you get a vet out there to check him. In the meantime you can soak the foot up over the fetlock in a bucket of warm Epsom Salt water for 10 minutes twice a day to hopefully draw the infection out (if that is what it is). If it is not an abscess this won't hurt but it won't help. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

From the picture this looks to be a mass. I would recommend having it evaluated by your family vet for needle sampling with cytology. That way they can determine if this is a mass and if so if it needs to be surgically removed (benign vs malignant). The toe is a tricky location so having it evaluated while it is small would be best. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This could be rain rot (a Dermatophilus congolensis infection) or a fungal infection. You should call out a vet for a skin exam. Your pony will likely need to be washed with a special antifungal/antibacterial shampoo. But before one can decide which kind of shampoo will be suitable, a correct diagnosis is necessary. Your vet can take a hair sample if necessary.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

This looks like a pretty serious case of rain rot. ( https://thehorse.com/122494/rain-rot-in-horses-diagnosis-treatment-and-prevention/ ) I suggest using this medicated shampoo. Lather, let sit on his skin for 15 minutes and then rinse well. Bathe him every 2-3 days. If after a week to 10 days you really do not see that much improvement he may need oral antibiotics that you would have to get from your vet. ( https://www.jefferspet.com/products/davis-ketohexidine-shampoo ) Wash all your saddle pads, brushes, blankets, etc to remove the bacteria. Do not ride him if the lesions are in the saddle/girth area until they are gone.