Splints

[megan_marie]

hello,

my horse developed a splint in December last year on the inside of his left hind, anyway cut a long story short, we had the vet out, he did ultrasound, x-rays etc. came up fine with no fractures, just a shocking size for a splint. He said that the splint looks like it has healed, it's cold, hard etc. and he thinks it is no longer calcifying. He gave us 2 weeks walk, 2 weeks trot and then 2 weeks canter and then back into full work, anyway he is recently just started cantering, and he's a bit crazy, bucking etc. but he always does this when he has been off and once he does more he settles down. He also had physio a week ago, so he's not in any pain, it's pure excitement.
Shockingly the splint has reduced MASSIVE amounts, it's actually ridiculous how much it has shrunk in only a few weeks. Is this normal? Can splints grow inwards? I rode him today, and he was bucking etc in canter, he is sound, but afterwards I felt the splint and it was very warm and all round the front of the cannon bone was warm too?? And he wasn't too keen on you palpating it. He was wearing brushing boots whilst being ridden. Do you think it could be causing suspensory ligament problems, or do splints sometimes get warm after work, has he fractured it? I'm very worried about him, we're going to see how it is tomorrow, praying the heat has gone. If not, we'll get the vet out again on Monday

 

[Goldenstar]

Splints can reabsord and disappear although very large ones usually don't disappear completely.
Bone remodels all the time only skin is more active.
The only splints I have seen that were interfering with soft structures made the horses definaltly lame .
It may be that it's still a bit active in which case if it is cool in the morning I would either back off back to walking and cold hose or use some form of cooling boots after every ride for say three weeks or call the vet in for another look .
If it's still warm in the morning I would get the vet to take a look
You don't want it coming up again .

 

[Hoof_Prints]

I wouldn't be riding much until it is cold, they can niggle for a while ! I had one that went lame, after a couple of weeks a tiny splint came up that was very painful to touch It then came up pretty large and she was very lame, she had to go on 6 weeks box rest and she still wasn't right. She ended up on 12 weeks rest and was in the field at 9 weeks. By the time she could be ridden, it was hardly noticeable it had shrunk so much. The vet couldn't believe how long it took to settle ! It wasn't fractured. Definitely don't rush it, once they have settled and are cold you will have no problems (hopefully!) I also have a mare who had loads of splints as a 5 yo, not very large ones but certainly noticeable. By the time she was 10 they had completely gone.