WINDGALL WORRIES

[Paigeous]

My 7 year old mare developed a windgall on her left foreleg a few months ago. I've always really worried about the condition of her legs and kept the amount of work we do in check, but every now and then I get a little carried away.

My YO at the time said that they aren't really anything to worry about and that it just developed because I'd jumped her a little more than I normally do (which I did because I was trying to improve her jumping).

I've recently moved yards and the new sand school is even softer than the one we left behind. I'm worried because her windgall has got a little bit bigger..it's only small but I don't want it to develop into anything major.

Has it got bigger because we've gone a lot further on hacks than we usually do..? Or could it be because the sand in the new school moves a lot more than the old sand and she has to put a bit more effort in sometimes..?

Also, can they cause pain or problems? I've researched them on the Internet but I was hoping the advice of reliable knowledgable horsey people such as yourselves would put my mind at rest, as I really want to get her jumping bigger - cos she loves it too.

Any comments greatly appreciated.

 

[Clodagh]

I can only speak from my own findings but my mare has got humungeous ones on all four legs, she had them when I bought her as a 4 year old. They get bigger in the summer but have never - touched wood - caused her any problems.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Im probably the worst person to answer your post but ... most vets will tell you that if the windgalls go down on exercise then there is nothing to worry about. Too much surface or not enough in a school can affect your horses tendons so do be aware.

My belief is that windgalls are a fluid which is there to protect a weakness. If you intend to do more jumping etc, then if it was my horse (in hindsight) I would have it scanned.

Signed
Mrs Paranoid
Wales

 

[Ezme]

I was told that wingalls are the equivialant of hard skin, ie they protect something thats in use as said above. Our shire/ID/TB hind legs were covered in some many wingalls that it made his fetlocks look huge but never gave him a days trouble in his life and he was in hard work on roads and gravel paths (driving horse) for 13years .

 

[Paigeous]

Thanks guys!

You've settled my worries a bit

It's alright getting all these fancy, well-paid "professionals" to tell you all about stuff but sometimes it's more comforting to hear it from people who deal with their horses daily like I do.

I'll keep an eye on her for now, but I think she'll be ok, especially since she only has one small one.

 

[Dressagebabe]

Have a look at the post in Veterinary titled Windgalls & suspensory ligaments, it was posted a couple of days ago. You might find what I answered interesting.