Windgall management/advice

[starbar]

My boy is in regular work, ridden 5/6 times per week, not for ages.... if we school sessions are around 45 minutes, hacks are an hour to an hour and a half although recently there have been a couple that have been longer. Plenty of road work in these so his legs are quite conditioned.
We have just started jumping . We do this about once a week. The last time was yesterday, we were popping cross poles then built up to a few jumps that were about 2'6" to 2'9". He jumped them nicely and we left it there.
Anyway, the point to all this is, I bought him in tonight to do a bit of schooling and when I picked his back feet out I noticed he was a bit puffy around his back fetlock joints. Not hugely swollen but definately puffy. I rode him as there was no heat in them and he was sound but kept the session fairly light on a good surface. After the session they were still there and there may have been a tiny bit of heat in one but this was debateable (maybe because I was looking for it if you know what I mean). I cold hosed them for about 30 minutes, he had his tea and I turned him out (he lives out). They did seem to have gone down a bit after this. Anyway, I think they are windgalls. I was wondering what I could do to manage these or prevent them from happening again. The are not really something I have had to deal with before so any advice appreciated
A bit long I know, thanks in advance

 

[starbar]

bump...any advice appreciated

 

[karlooben]

my horse is not rideable so hes just classed as an expensive pet but he does get worked but not recently though meaning the last 4 months as he went very lame when turned out, he had torn a tendon in the near hind so he was on box rest for a month then he went sound so he got turned out and 3 days later he came in on 3 legs the second time he done it full on and caused a wingall at the same time which he still has but at least hes sound , i did banage it but that made him worse and he threw a wobbly at me so i took it of but my vet recommended to leave him and only put protection on when walk working him to get him fit again . i would say leave yours alone as windgalls are normally painless they just look ugly but if he goes very unsound get the vet out right away especailly if its that leg .

 

[Lissa]

My pony has had them and a thoroughpin going on 3years now on and off. When he first got them we had the vet check them as he was out anyway. He basically said that they very rarely cause lameness or a problem to the horse and are just unsightly especially for showing.

Saying that I've still successfully shown mine and my instructor had one who had thoroughpins and got to olympia with them and had them most of his life without causing problems.

I'd just leave them and keep a eye on them, as long as there not causing him any trouble. My ponies actually seem to of finally dissappeared over the last few months and even after 5 1/2 hours hunting on saturday didn't come back up.