Splints...tell me all you know...

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madabouthehorse

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Yes, well the clue is in the title really ;)

Would like any info on horses that have thrown a splint, what you find helps the lump go down and if you have had any problems after etc

Tah :)
 
Most of the experience i have had with splints comes from years ago working with young IrishX horses, they occasionally had "developed" splints when they came over (from the field) or threw them when they came into work, we used to cold hose and DMSO. They never caused any trouble when they formed and often just needed a little time in the field so let them settle down if they got inflamed. These were horses that went on to hunt, event, show jump, RC everything and never had any trouble afterwards.

I remember 2 of the horses had splints the size of tombstones and they were never ever lame with them!

They only cause a real issue when they are a bit far back and interfere with the surrounding tissue
 
My Welsh cob had one. It was never hot, never caused any probs and he was never lame.

My current horse has a few - years of hunting before I got him, I think! His joints are shot but I don't think the splints are anything to do with it.
 
My experience is two horses with splints. First one had about two on both forelegs. I think I used some over the counter splint conconction on those. They were pretty big ones! I can't say that the conconction made them smaller, but 5-6 years after forming, you could hardly see them at all. Horse was never lame ( tough mare, never complained at anything). I was told she probably developed them through her action - dished and also very high knee action and a big girl. So I never trotted on roads or hard ground unless absolutely necessary.
Second horse threw one and was lame...much smaller splint. Cold hosed and rested. Has formed is fine, but still there. Was never anywhere near the size of the ones on my last horse though.
I don't think they should cause you any problems so long as away from the joint.
 
Providing that they aren not too far back you'll be ok. My mare has hunted three days a fortnight for a decade now and this summer (on her hols) she must have turned to fast or stumbled because she had a whopper come up, she had the cleanest legs before! I used splintex gold, after I left it to harden, and now its half the size of a garden pea, magical stuff. She hasn't been lame on it or shown any signs of suffering, just a rather ugly lump. My daughters dartmoor has an old splint which rared its head before pc camp and she did go lame (v v wimpy pony) but with correct bute doseage, ice tight and bandaging she was sound and well within a week. Good luck!
 
One of my youngsters threw a splint when he was 2 came up overnight, no heat/lameness, I just left it and it is now half the size and has caused no problems. generally its best to leave alone if they are not causing problems and usually they will settle down and get much smaller in size
 
Many years ago I had a horse with huge splints on his cannon bone (right under his knee) and they were no problem whatsoever but i'm now concerned as my little girl has just developed quite a large boney lump (almost rectangle shape) on her splint bone - she appears sound even though she has been diagnosed & treated for trauma arthritis on this knee - am wondering if it's linked???? She isn't really worked at the moment as she is in-foal, but the ground in her field is rock hard and she does like to play a lot!!!
 
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