Stiffness/swelling in legs over winter

[littlen]

Horse is 11 years old. He is out during the day and in at night over winter, out 24/7 over summer.
Conformationally (sp?), he isnt the best. He has a high leg action and is close behind and in front, leading to frequent overreaching and brushing injuries.

Over winter he hs been quite stiff, mainly in the back legs. When he is first turned out or ridden from the stable he takes a while to warm up. He is not lame just stiff, its hard to explain! He can occasionally get heat in his legs. It is worse in cold weather and he is rarely stiff in summer.

This morning he was particulally bad, and one of his legs had swollen more than the other. He was also stiffer than normal although not lame as such. He had heat in his legs also.
I turned him out on advice of yard manager as she said it would help.

So, why is this happening to him and is there anything I can do about it?
He is 11 years old, this isnt old is it? Ive never heard of a horse having so many problems at his age...

What about stable wraps/suppliments/bandaging, does any of this work?

 

[CBFan]

I think stable wraps or bandages would be a good first step as are investing in some magnetic boots... My boy, who is big and also not the best put together specimen suffers a little in the winter with stiffness and filling in his hocks and I find allowing him plenty of turnout and getting him out 24/7 ASAP particularly beneficial...

 

[littlen]

Thanks CBfan. I wish I could get him out now, unfortunatley there is absolutley no grass and YO wont let us switch fields until the end of april!

Can anyone reccomend any stable wraps etc.

Would a suppliment such as cod liver oil work do you think?

 

[vallin]

My girls legs do this, would say as much t/o as possible, and I use eskadron stable wraps and bandages and they seem to help a lot. I don't use any supplements so I can't help you with them!