Swollen glands caused by grass??

[Cash]

My potential new horse was meant to be vetted today. My mum and sister went as I was at school. They got a call from the owner saying that he had been brought in from the field and his glands were up and he had 'hamster' cheeks- the vet (who was doing the vetting) said it was best not to do the vetting today as, although he confirmed that to the best of his knowledge the swellings are harmless, he would have to fail the horse on the grounds that they were not 'normal'. Owner was distraught as we have been getting along very well, and she was really happy with her baby going to us, and she was afraid we would be completely put off.
Mum and sister went anyway (were halfway there at this point) to chat to vet and owner about it. Apparantly this happens each spring for a couple of weeks at a time, to pretty much all the horses on the yard (YO vouched for this) and it goes away with no side effects, sometimes within a few hours before cropping up again. Vet said it was most likely due to the new grass, and vetting has been rescheduled for a week today- he will be kept in that day.
Should this be putting us off? Have done a quick search on here and read all sorts about people's horses getting them all year round, and not being able to work in an outline, or have their throatlashes done up??

 

[eggs]

Should this be putting us off? Have done a quick search on here and read all sorts about people's horses getting them all year round, and not being able to work in an outline, or have their throatlashes done up??

Never heard of this happening before but have known plenty of horses that come in with swollen glands due to the grass. They usually go down after being in the stable for a couple of hours.

I would not worry about them.

 

[dwi]

Daisy's grass glands used to come up every year. They were never so huge that you couldn't work in an outline or do up a throatlash. Lots of horses seem to get them for a few weeks in spring and autumn when the flush of grass comes through.

 

[JVB]

My vet told me years ago that their glands come up when they aren't getting enough grass and are over chewing for the amount being eaten - mine have just started getting it as we aren't allowed to put hay in the field any more so they aren't having much to eat during the day.

Over the years some horses I've seen more affected than other, but it's not something that would ever worry me - Just feel bit sorry for them if hungry

 

[glitterfuzz]

my horse gets this, its nothing to worry about. The swelling is from over production of saliva by the partoid gland. It has normally gone by the next morning. My horse only gets it when the first spring grass comes through, if he comes in with hamster cheeks I just turn him out for a shorter time for the next couple of days and its seems to work.

Its often called grass glands. Seems to have been worse this year than normal. I wouldnt be put off by it, its not a disease or something that has side effects.

 

[soulfull]

lots of horses get them a lot. My friend use to leave her horse in the stable for a couple of hours or so before she rode when this happened. They seemed to go down a fair bit, but not completely. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you want him for top level dressage and want to ride him almost straight out of the field