We are pretty sure our gelding was bit by a tick, not once, not twice, but THREE times.

The swelling is slowly coming down but the wound/hole is festering. I think I got them drying up well with a 1% silver cream but its taking a while for these suckers to heal. Any recommendations? 

Are you sure it was a tick and not a horse fly? Horse fly bites look just like that, I just put wound cream on daily for 7-10 days when mine get them. If it is tick, I'd assume the same. I've never seen a tick bite turn into anything like that but I rarely see a tick since they're on dry lots 

You know, I actually was thinking the same thing. I sent the pictures to our vet and she said definelty some type of bite maybe tick..I think I just ran with that but definetly could be horse fly. Poor guy got bit up good. 

Could it have been a bee or a wasp sting? You might check & make sure it doesn't still have a stinger in it 

I would say horsefly. My mare will get about a 10" welt around the area, and good luck trying to touch it with her. You can try to give benadryl for a couple days when they get bad to manage the reaction. Ice pack or cold hose helps too, they can get really painful.