Windgall treatment

Lammy

Lammy

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 October 2013
Messages
728
Visit site
My mare has developed a windgall on her hind fetlock. She had one earlier in the summer and we reduced her workload for a few weeks and cold hosed it, it went down considerably, though it was still present - just a lot smaller. Now it's back again, workload hasn't been especially hard, more like medium and not an awful lot of jumping, hacking on roads etc. She's fully clipped (bar her head but that's another story) due to also getting mud fever constantly on her hinds, so I'd prefer not to get the legs wet if at all possible. There's no heat in it and it's still soft and fluidy and she doesn't mind at all when I poke at it. Spoke to the vet over the phone who also confirmed it was another windgall.

I've heard magnetic therapy boots can help and was wondering if anybody else had used these before I take the plunge and buy a pair to try?
Or are there any other treatments you've found that have worked?

I should mention she's a 16 year old Welsh D. I know older horses are more prone to them but obviously I want to get rid of it if I can!
Thanks!
 
I think there was an article about windgalls in a recent Horse & Hound. A "proper" windgall is not an unsoundness, it is unsightly and there is very little you can do about it. Lots of horses that have had a busy life will develop windgalls, and live, work and die with them causing no problems. I think your vet is the person to consult. You might have to live with them!
 
Yeah I thought so Orangehorse, vet said to do what I did last time and see if it would go down again but I explained the issue of the mud fever and she didn't seem to have any more suggestions. As long as it's not going to cause her any issues in the long term I can definitely live with it, even if it does make her leg look lumpy.

And there's definitely no lameness Batgirl, she's as sound as ever. Touch wood.

Thanks for the replies! I'd just hate to be leaving it if there was something I can do. But it's definitely not causing her any pain or discomfort.
 
My horse had two windgalls come up on his near hind. He was in light work so we assumed it was due to him hooleying around the field.
We tried everything to reduce them, cold hosing, magnet boots, gels from the vet but nothing did. We decided they were cosmetic and to ignore them
A couple of months later horse went very mildly lame on that leg and was diagnosed with spavin. Spavin treated, horse sound again and literally within a week windgalls had gone, never to return.
Vet said they must have come up due to the horse loading differently due to the spavin and then went when horse was loading the limb normally again.
Just something to consider, its normally just wear and tear and cosmetic but I will always now b aware that it could b something brewing. Ive seen this happen with a splint too where it disappeared after a mild lameness issue was addressed.
 
Ditto what whiteflower said, i had similar last summer with a small windgall appearing on one hind only - that rang alarm bells for me as pairs are more normal even though there was no lameness. In our case it turned out to be a bone chip in the fetlock that had to be surgically removed.
 
My boy has squidgy, fluidy windgalls on both back legs. Pretty equal "filling" and passed his 5 stage when I got him in April with him. Although mentioned in his vetting, he passed with flying colours with vet not worried. Although if new obviously that different.
 
Mine has windgalls I really like veredus magnetic boots for overnight in stable ( cheapest place I found the was horsehealth) I tried premier equine ones before buying veredus I fous they slipped. Love veredus light weight and don't slip but expensive. I also use horse wear ice vibe boots after work which are fab. Find the veredus overnight do make a difference.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top