Splint

[SEH]

One of my horses has popped a splint and I have never seen one or had it happen before. He's 8 coming up 9. He tried jumping a small tape and wood post fence and messed up getting tangled, taking half the fence with him. He was fine after it but the next day it was clear the splint had popped, I think the post he snapped must have caught him or he's pulled it getting caught in the tape. He hasn't been lame, no heat and no pain... but I am so worried about it happening again/making it worse. He's my pride and joy and I am quite upset and worried about him. This happened only just over a week ago so obviously he isn't in work now, but I wan't to make sure I am prepared for the future. What kind of boots/stuff is best for horses with splint issues? I have lemeuix combi bandages and brushing boots but I have no idea what is best to put on him for work. Are there any special splint boots I can get?

 

[be positive]

If he banged it only a week ago I guess he probably gave the splint bone a hard direct knock, even with no heat or pain having a break from work is helpful, I would use cold therapy, ice and or cold hosing as it is probably bruised and may still be active, they often go down almost as quickly as they come up, one here had a nasty splint late last year, xrays showed fairly extensive fractures to the top of the splint bone but it has now almost completely gone, he is back in full work and being treated as normal, he does not wear boots as he never did before and is a very chunky hairy native, a finer one would wear boots for jumping just to protect from another knock.

 

[SEH]

If he banged it only a week ago I guess he probably gave the splint bone a hard direct knock, even with no heat or pain having a break from work is helpful, I would use cold therapy, ice and or cold hosing as it is probably bruised and may still be active, they often go down almost as quickly as they come up, one here had a nasty splint late last year, xrays showed fairly extensive fractures to the top of the splint bone but it has now almost completely gone, he is back in full work and being treated as normal, he does not wear boots as he never did before and is a very chunky hairy native, a finer one would wear boots for jumping just to protect from another knock.

Yes, he's not in work and getting cold hosing twice a day for 15 mins. Thank you, thats really helpful, nice to know they can get back to normal.

 

[ycbm]

Pretty much every horse I have owned since living on a steep hill has developed splints. They are rarely a problem. And since yours was caused by a knock, and not from stresses from inside, I wouldn't expect any issues unless the splint bone is damaged and that's unlikely from what you describe.

I don't boot or bandage unless the horse moves close.

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[SEH]

Pretty much every horse I have owned since living on a steep hill has developed splints. They are rarely a problem. And since yours was caused by a knock, and not from stresses from inside, I wouldn't expect any issues unless the splint bone is damaged and that's unlikely from what you describe.

I don't boot or bandage unless the horse moves close.

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Thank you, this is very helpful. He doesn't move close at all, very wide set.

 

[SEH]

Pretty much every horse I have owned since living on a steep hill has developed splints.
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Hi, you seem to know a lot about them so I have a few questions if that is okay. I am definitely a stresser when it comes to injuries/problems with my horses and this is new to me. My horses splint isn't going down at all, if anything I think it went down a bit and came back up. Still absolutely no heat, pain or lameness. Should I be worried that it hasn't gone down at all? Do they ever go down? He is still running round the field like a madman with his friends, should I separate him in a smaller field to prevent this? Thanks for any help!

 

[ycbm]

Hi, you seem to know a lot about them so I have a few questions if that is okay. I am definitely a stresser when it comes to injuries/problems with my horses and this is new to me. My horses splint isn't going down at all, if anything I think it went down a bit and came back up. Still absolutely no heat, pain or lameness. Should I be worried that it hasn't gone down at all? Do they ever go down? He is still running round the field like a madman with his friends, should I separate him in a smaller field to prevent this? Thanks for any help!

I must have seen fifty in my time, only one of which ever caused an issue and that resolved with a longer rest.

I don't think you really have a splint. If it was caused by a knock from outside it may be an exptosis, a lump of bone that forms on a knock. If it's that it won't go down to its smallest for a year and may never go completely. If he's not unsound there's very little you can do, and even less that you need to. You could, if it will make you feel better, get hold of some linement called 'Bone Radiol' if anyone still sells it. It might make it smaller sooner.You could cold hose it if it would make you feel like you're doing something. It won't hurt.

A true splint is where the ligament between the splint bone and the cannon bone turns to bone and sticks the two together. If you had a big lump from that, it would most likely have given you at least a few days of lameness. As it is, I think you are seeing the results of a harmless knock, from what you describe.


Can you take some photos?