Swollen fetlocks and stiff when stabled! WWYD?

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Ali27

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My mare had surgery on her SDFT last September and they also discovered she had torn her manica flexoria :( Anyway after months of box rest and controlled walking, the vet pronounced her sound in May and said I could lightly hack her! I have had her 11 years, she is now 16 and I decided to retire her to be a fulltime field ornament as I would never forgive myself if she reinjured it! She has been out 24/7 from May to two weeks ago, when I decided to bring her and our other mare in due to the rain! She comes in at 6pm and gets turned out at 5.30am during the week. Anyway the last few days, I have noticed her bad and good hind legs have swollen around the fetlocks and she seems very stiff coming out of the stable. A couple of mornings, she has been lying down and once she is up, she struggles to turn herself round! She doesn't lame but rather stiff and is keen to go out in field! I will text my vet on Mon for advice! I'm wondering whether she might be best outside 24/7 rather than in but not sure what to do for the best! She really seems to be happy being a field ornament and doesn't look to be in pain! I guess I'm after advice from anyone who has had a similar experience!
 
Turned my field ornament out 24/7 for exactly the same thing. He is much better. I hate seeing him in so much mud but at least he is mobile and seems quite happy as does his yearling buddy. So long as they are rugged and have some form of shelter (field shelter or high hedges), and lots and lots of hay, they are fine.
 
No field shelter but there is natural shelter in the field! The field itself is quite well drained and just mud (but only hoof deep) by gate! I don't really want to rug her as her l/w is not waterproof and she is so hairy that she would boil under a m/w! It would mean, our other mare would have to stay out too and she is clipped but rugged! I guess, maybe I could leave them out when it is dry and just bring in if it is torrential rain or snow! They only like coming in for feed and hay!
 
I agree with the other keep her out when you can. My girl is nineteen and after a bit of an injury on her fetlock last year, hers was also swelling up and she was getting a bit stiff too so I decided to try her on a joint supplement. Aft hours of research I chose Equimins flexi joint and its made a world of difference for her. She is back to how she used to be! Recommended.
 
Ali27 said:
My mare had surgery on her SDFT last September and they also discovered she had torn her manica flexoria :( Anyway after months of box rest and controlled walking, the vet pronounced her sound in May and said I could lightly hack her! I have had her 11 years, she is now 16 and I decided to retire her to be a fulltime field ornament as I would never forgive myself if she reinjured it! She has been out 24/7 from May to two weeks ago, when I decided to bring her and our other mare in due to the rain! She comes in at 6pm and gets turned out at 5.30am during the week. Anyway the last few days, I have noticed her bad and good hind legs have swollen around the fetlocks and she seems very stiff coming out of the stable. A couple of mornings, she has been lying down and once she is up, she struggles to turn herself round! She doesn't lame but rather stiff and is keen to go out in field! I will text my vet on Mon for advice! I'm wondering whether she might be best outside 24/7 rather than in but not sure what to do for the best! She really seems to be happy being a field ornament and doesn't look to be in pain! I guess I'm after advice from anyone who has had a similar experience!
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turn out, and maybe bring in for an hour to have a net and a feed (feed can just be chaff and paddock mix with supplements if necessary) - just a small token feed.
 
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