splints - forming or formed?

[coen]

Hello,

I brought my 6yr old gelding in from the field yesterday morning to find 2 round bony lumps on the inside of his right fore and right hind. He wasn't lame or sore when I put pressure on them and I could only feel slight heat.(which may be from my hand anyway.)

I am guessing these are splints?
They have appeared out of no where so I guess it may have been caused by hard ground or bashing his legs rolling?
I am now bringing him in in the evening, have stopped riding and will cold hose.

How long after damaging the area would a splint appear?

How will I know when they are set? - I don't want to make them worse, and is there anyway to prevent them happening in future, or is it just one of those things.

 

[_MizElz_]

I had a similar experience with my mare last year. She came in from the field one day with two splints on the outside of both front legs, having had two weeks off after a long sponsored ride. After the ride there had been no indication of lameness, heat or swelling - they literally appeared after she'd been turned out, so we put it down to her hooning around with her mates.

Her splints were very high, quite small and they were warm initially, although she never went lame. We gave her a month off with cold hosing for 20 mins each day, and they settled eventually - I didnt want to ride her whilst there was still heat in her legs. She has not had any trouble with them since, and they are now so small you can hardly see them!

I would say if there is any heat, then you are doing the right thing by hosing, keeping him quiet and not riding. If it were me, I'd wait til the temperature returns to normal

 

[coen]

That's the funny thing you see he had about 10 days off recently as I went on holiday so he certainly hasn't been doing anything strenuous but he can be silly in the field and did jump over the gate into the next field while I was away. I have now been back 2 wks and I haven't noticed any bad signs.

I will keep monitoring it, just slightly cautious about giving him too much time off as he gets bored very easily and I have only recently got him through a tricky teenage stage or behaving like a total git. Suppose thats just horses.

Does this now mean that he is more suseptible to getting splints in the future?
His are quite big and look like a matching pair. How long do they usually take to form?
Is there any chance of them getting worse before they get better?

 

[eggs]

My five year old recently came in from the field with a stonking great splint on the outside of her leg right up by her knee and another on the inside of her opposite leg. Neither had heat and she wasn't lame but as a precaution I stopped working her - although I am not sure that 15 mins twice a week on a surface is really working!

I have had two year olds who have just been out at grass throw a splint. They have't caused any problems and virtually disappear by the time they are backed.

Fortunately we don't do any showing so it is not a problem.

 

[coen]

Thanks for the replies, it does help put things into perspective when you hear how common it is. I was really annoyed at myself for not preventing it but by the sound of things it's nion impossible to do so.
I checked him again when I brought him in this afternoon (also took photo's of all legs to monitor any change - possible slightly over the top) and hosed them down. Guess I will continue this for a wk then take a view on whether or not to start light riding in the school.
I definately think the hard ground has been the main factor.

Oh well thanks for the advice I am so glad it isn't likely to cause him problems in the future.