An old barrel racer I met a few years ago in Texas taught me how to make a great medicine that can quickly heal minor scrapes, scratches and burns.

The two magic ingredients are sugar, and iodine. How many, and how big or how many injuries will determine how much of each ingredient is necessary. Start with about ¼ to ½ a cup of sugar, and slowly mix in the iodine in small increments until you have a thick, but not soupy past.

With rubber gloves on your hands gently apply a thin layer of paste so that it covers the horses' entire injury.

The iodine will disinfect the wound while the sugar adds thickness to the mixture, keeps the flies away, and keeps the skin from dying. I have found this to be the most effective method for treating minor scrapes and scratches, especially on the legs. I have also heard that this mixture can be used to treat abscesses and thrush.