Splin t troubles

[Hoof_Prints]

Hello, looking for a bit of advice on a horse under my care. The horse is 5 years old and came in from the field slightly lame. Owner called the vet immediately and after a quick trot up he said the horse was "a little off" and hoof testers showed bruising on the inside of the hoof. He said two weeks rest and back to work. Since then the horse has been back in work but a small splint started forming, about an inch below the knee; so he was put on box rest and then came sound and advised turn out.

Horse was on-off lame for about 4 weeks but then came sound and went back in to light work. He was turned out again and stayed sound but then recently (a further 4 weeks later) he came in lame again on the splint and is obviously lame. Vet has been called and we are thinking of having x rays and wondering if this is going to be a surgery candidate ! What experiences have people had with troublesome splints? I have 4 horses with splints from their younger years and never been lame on them in years of heavy hunting and jumping work. I heard that most splints are supposed to cause little to no lameness and resolve in a few days so it's rather worrying!

Thanks in advance, vet has been called and should be out very soon to further advise but we are both panicking and stressing !

 

[be positive]

Splints when forming can cause on off lameness as they settle, some never cause any problems they just appear almost overnight and are settled from day one, others can go on for months before finally settling down and then should cause no further trouble as long as they are not affecting a joint.
I would not panic, see what the vet advises but usually a few more weeks or a month or two off will be enough for it to cause no further trouble, I have not known of a horse having surgery on a normal undamaged splint and think it unlikely that a vet would want to operate while t is still forming as there must be a risk of it continuing to form after removal.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

Thanks for the reply, it's hard to know whether to box rest or allow turnout (for mental health too!) I suppose that will be up to my vet when I can get him out. I have a suspicion that he has been taking himself for a good gallop at night and jumping the long grass which isn't helping things settle! It's not very sensitive to press now as it initially was.

 

[be positive]

I would not want to box rest, turning out and restricting somehow would allow it to settle down more in it's own time, keeping them in only means delaying the galloping and the risk of further harm when they do get out.