Solar punctures are one of the most common causes of lameness.
They are usually the result of penetration of the solar surface of the foot by a sharp foreign body. As a result of this penetration, infection, usually by anaerobic bacteria, gains access to the hoof capsule and associated structures and an abscess develops. This article deals with the treatment of subsolar abscesses. This treatment can sometimes be an area of contention between farrier and veterinarian. When I was first given the title for this paper, it looked to me a bit like the title of a court case.