Lump on horses chin

[anajanegray]

Hi, I discovered a lump on my 7/8 year old gelding. It is on his left side, is about the size of a pea and very hard- like bone. It isn't painful and I've prodded it and pinched it with no reaction. I don't believe he has ever had any accidents and he last had the dentist 9 months ago, so coming up for another appointment, and his vet said he had perfect teeth. You can't really see anything in the photo I took so haven't attached anything. Should I be worried and has anybody ever had a horse with the same thing? Thanks.

 

[wkiwi]

A bit hard to tell from the description, but is it in an area where there is bone underneath? (i.e. on his jawbone).
Splints on the legs are formed by damage to the periosteum (bone covering) and new bone forms as a reaction (think of bone 'leaking', although this is a simplification). this can actually occur anywhere on the body - it is only called a splint if it is near the splint bone - so a horse that knocks a bone elsewhere can end up with a bony lump.
Could your horse have knocked itself there?
I would measure it with a ruler and only worry about it if it does any of the following 1) grows 2) becomes painful 3) starts to ooze 4) other lumps come up either near there or elsewhere in the body.
If still worried however, then ring your vet and discuss options with them.