Swollen hind legs

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Char0901

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So my lads hind legs are swelling up when stabled at night. The vet came out for the monthly visit last week so I asked her to have a look at them.
She says it's down to the haylage, the first horse she saw on my yard had exactly the same the thing. The swelling goes completely when he's turned out for the day. Vet said this wouldn't happen if it were an infection or anything.
She said I shouldn't worry about it whilst it's not bothering him. He's never lame or stiff, just puffy.
But, should I be changing to hay? Or reducing his haylage intake? He has two large haylage nets per day (the red and black ones) this is sort of ad lib for him and there is always a bit left whenever I put a new one in.
He has a token feed at night of just two hand fulls of Suregrow.
Is there anything thing I can give him to help? A supplement or anything?
 
My geldings back fetlocks swell very slightly when he's stabled, they go down completely when he's turned out or worked. As he's completely sound and there's no heat, I'm not concerned. He's a 12 year old ex eventer. I've only noticed this since he's been in longer overnight, in the summer when he was out at night and in for just a few hours to keep him out of the flies it wasn't a problem. If your lad's completely sound and there's no heat, I wouldn't worry too much.
 
Your vet is telling you a load of rubbish! Many horse's back legs swell when they are first brought in for the night after being turned out 24/7. It is nothing to do with haylage. lt is because they are not moving around as much and the circulation is therefore poorer, lymph system doesn't drain as well etc. Horses are designed to be moving almost constantly. Towards the end of summer, I start feeding haylage out in the fields as the grass gets really poor. They horse's legs never swell up. But when I first bring them in for the night, a couple of them get swollen back legs (fetlock area). This then gradually passes. However, if you get a horse that always gets swollen puffy legs when stabled, then it can mean there is a problem further up. You often see it in horses that have hock arthritis (spavin) for example.
 
My horses legs do this (he's 18) so he lives out 24/7 and we don't have the problem. He comes in for a few hours if really bad weather but he's better off out! It's just because they aren't moving around.
 
Wagtail said:
Your vet is telling you a load of rubbish! Many horse's back legs swell when they are first brought in for the night after being turned out 24/7. It is nothing to do with haylage. lt is because they are not moving around as much and the circulation is therefore poorer, lymph system doesn't drain as well etc. Horses are designed to be moving almost constantly. Towards the end of summer, I start feeding haylage out in the fields as the grass gets really poor. They horse's legs never swell up. But when I first bring them in for the night, a couple of them get swollen back legs (fetlock area). This then gradually passes. However, if you get a horse that always gets swollen puffy legs when stabled, then it can mean there is a problem further up. You often see it in horses that have hock arthritis (spavin) for example.
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^ agree
 
Talking to my hugely experienced trainer yesterday i mentioned that my boys back fetlocks were slightly swollen in the morning, first question he asked me was "had I moved paddocks" In deed I had to a much richer one with more grass and that coincided with the swollen legs. So, although I totally agree that many horses suffer from swollen legs when stabled, there may be a link to the haylage if it is much richer than you had been using. i make my own haylage and deliberately have it cut late and wrapped on the dry side, I never have any problem with it but I've seen other haylage which is clearly much higher in sugars. I'm not a scientist and hold no claim to great equine knowledge that's why if I have an experienced equine vet (and mine are) tell me something, I tend to take notice so unless you think your vet is an idiot (in which case, get a new one) He/she might have a point..
 
My TB mare always has swollen back legs when she is stabled at night. She is on hay so it is certainly not haylage, just because she is stood in a lot it goes down once walked off or ridden and she is never lame with it
 
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