Legs filling overnight?

Girlracer

Girlracer

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I have noticed over the last 2 weeks that Major's legs have been filling when in overnight.

They have done in the past but never as frequently or quite as much as they are at the moment. They go down with work, or a day in the field but just wondering what could be causing it and how to prevent it?

He's not sore at all, there's no heat or suspect lumps & bumps, he's in from 6PM until around 7.30AM, slightly less than in the depth of winter. It's not a particular leg either it's all four equally?

What do you think?
 
My hunter's legs used to fill up overnight but, as you said, go down with work (he was prone to wind galls etc.). My cob mare came with that problem, and the dealer was quite open about it. But I've always kept her out 24/7 and have never seen the problem again in 8 years. Movement is what keeps their legs clean.
 
Rose Folly said:
My hunter's legs used to fill up overnight but, as you said, go down with work (he was prone to wind galls etc.). My cob mare came with that problem, and the dealer was quite open about it. But I've always kept her out 24/7 and have never seen the problem again in 8 years. Movement is what keeps their legs clean.
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This!!
 
Faracat said:
The two reasons I've come across are 1, restriction of movement and 2, too much protein in the diet.
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These are two reasons I know of. I think we underestimate the importance of movement for circulation in the lower leg which has only a tiny amount of muscle tissue.
 
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With my two, any slight swellings in the legs at this time of year is due to the first signs of mud rash, even when there is not much mud, and before any scabs or heat show..
 
Humus from being stabled, as above not enough movement and too much protein but protein is required in the horses diet, so suggest just put stable wraps on quicker than bandages
 
Mine did this when i brought him in last year, they swelled up so i put him in stable chaps everynight and they went down. He was barely having any feed bar hay.Also noticed his windgalls were down too. Maybe worth a try? Def check for scabs/mudfever remnants and pig oil/sulphur his legs/heels.
 
Yes, protein is needed. I'm talking about too much, which can be rectified by cutting hard feed and restricting grazing. Stable wraps would have had no effect when CM had this problem (coincided with a flush in grass growth) as the swelling was going up over her hocks and knees. Cutting out some of the protein in her diet resulted in the swelling reducing to nothing over a few days.
 
my boy strangely gets only one swollen front leg, when kept in for roughly more than 12 hours, he was fired on his front legs as a race horse and vet has suggested that it has caused the drainage/lymphatic system to not work as well, especially on the one, which is why it swells much more. luckily have no other issues with it, and mostly stays living out. but i also find the same leg gets mud fever before the other 3 socks, which are all white.
going to try stable chaps or wraps this year when he starts coming in at night, but not really sure they will make much difference.
 
He has ad-lib hay (i mean properly ad-lib, and he eats a lot!) high fibre chaff, high fibre nuts and a lo cal balancer.

He is sensitive to new grass as he also suffers from grass glands.

He is out tonight now it's dry again but may dry some magnetic boots on him when he comes in again.
 
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