Thoroughpins - cause and treatment?

[tobiano1984]

My 4yo TB was slightly unsound in the school yesterday - fine to start with then had a canter and then wasn't actually lame on a particular leg but just not quite right at the back end. Upon looking closely I noticed he's got thoroughpins - a larger one on the left and a smaller one on the right. I have to say I don't know if they're new - he's been away for a few weeks and it's one of those things I can't think if I've noticed before or only noticed when looking for something wrong!

This morning they're still there and he is sound in walk, again not lame in trot inhand but just a bit 'not right' - to me looks more like a back/pelvis thing so will get the osteo out and give him some time off.

But I know nothing of thoroughpins, I know they're tendon sheath swellings but what causes them? And what can I do to get rid of them? And at what point do you need the vet involved (and what do they do)?

 

[gunnergundog]

Look critically at his hock/hind leg conformation. They also often occur in young horses when the work load is upped and the conformation isn't quite optimal, shall we say. If he's lame, then get a vet. Quite often though they are just cosmetic. Not had a horse with one for years and years, but all the vet used to do was to drain them and then................................................................................................they would come back again! It was something that some show people did in days of yore; also a classic for the dodgy dealer!