Windgalls or tendon problem, how do I tell the difference..

[opinionuk]

My mare has swellings on her hind leg just above her fetlock, it looks like windgalls and appeared several weeks ago, I asked the vet about the swelling when she came to our livery yard and she said not to worry about it as the horse isn't lame, there's never been any heat and she's have to have it touched and prodded and she probably has a bit of arthritis! She's 7!

She's generally been out for 6 hours a day and stabled overnight, this has now been swapped around so thankfully she is out overnight and brought in for a few hours during the day.
The swelling doesn't alter if she's bandaged, stable rested or worked.
I went up this morning and the swelling now seems to have become hard on the back of her fetlock but still soft by the tendons.

Has anybody else experienced this before seems strange that the swelling has now become hard on back of fetlock ...

 

[Doublethyme]

If its hard I would get vet or another one out again. Could be annular ligament constricting. Having been through this with my mare, I'd recommend getting the leg thoroughly checked out. My vet told me nothing to worry about and windgalls, two months before my mare went slightly lame. Turned out to be annular ligament and damage to superficial digital flexor tendon and sadly 4.5 years on and despite a year off, treatment and rehabbing her extremely carefully three times, she has never come back to full work and is now pretty much retired.

In the same position again, I would now insist on a scan to he sure.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Any alteration in condition needs to be investigated

 

[opinionuk]

I will get the vet out again tomorrow, she has just started her career in eventing and have a feeling this is her bodies way of saying she's not up to it.

Also I want to request a different vet than I usually have, she's dealt with my mare since I had her but I find her a bit wish washy and would prefer somebody to tell me how it is rather than beat around the bush so feel a bit guilty asking for another vet ...

 

[merlinsquest]

Definately agree with the poster who mentioned potential annular ligament problems especially if the swelling has gone hard. If you are unhappy with the current vet, could you just request another one perhaps by name when you book the appointment?