windgalls

[shadowboy]

Just been to see a horse with a windgall on nearside hind leg. The seller did warn us, but it was larger than expected, about the size of an egg. He is an ex- racehorse (retired due to not having the inclination to race) anyone had experience of them, their vet says it will not cause him any problems, but i want to make sure that it is not going to cause him problems later on in life- i think it was caused by racing, possibly when the ground was hard. Any ideas?

 

[mrdarcy]

My ex-endurance gelding has the biggest windgalls on his near hind... he carried on competing for a good few years with them so I wouldn't worry unduly if the horse you're interested in has passed a five stage vetting and you don't want to show him.

I would say though that my gelding does tend to rest that hind leg more than his other and he probably wouldn't trot up 100% level at the end of a 100mile race anymore but he is 18 and he's got thousands of competitive miles under his belt

 

[Louby]

My boys got them on his hind legs and has had a pretty easy life but then he hasnt got the best hind leg confirmation. They are more elongated than eggish, if you know what I mean and thay have never (touch wood) caused him any problems. I would ask my vet if one windgall was ok, dont know why but it wouldnt worry me if there was one on both legs. Daft I know.

 

[MagicMelon]

Anybody tried that new stuff "Windgall" by Global Herbs? I cant see how it works....!

 

[Tempi]

i cant see how it works either - but i use their pollen allergy stuff on Bloss and it works really well..............

 

[monstermunch]

I am presuming your horse has non articular windgalls which is known in the veterinary world as idiopathic synovitis or also known as windpuffs. This is a distension of a joint capsule, with excess fluid, not usually accompanied by lameness.
Although many people generally don't consider windgalls to be a problem I personally feel that it is important to identify why your horse has them.
Windgalls are usually caused through overuse, use on hard ground, weakening to a joint structure, and weakening to a tendon structure, so it doesn't surprise me that as an ex race horse he has them.
As this horse is an ex race horse it is likely to be overuse that has caused it.
They may swell up more after work or be present all the time.
Unfortunately there is no quick solution to making then go down. You can get the fluid drained off although I would not normally advise this because, as soon as it is drained, the joint produces more to fill the space that is left. Another approach that sometimes works is massage to the area to help it drain naturally. Other approaches are cold hosing and bandaging although I am sceptical on whether these really do help at all.
The best approach is to tackle the root cause which is some type of malfunction within the joint and tendons. Although this may not necessarily affect him for a long time windgalls are an indication that there is an underlying weakness somewhere and this does leave your horse more prone to injury. For this reason you should consider having X-rays taken and a thorough examination made to check the function of his joints.
It is likely that the tissue which produces the joint fluid is not working properly or that there is some form of irritation, damage, or weakness within the joint. Mild damage or malfunction may not necessarily cause pain or lameness.
As well as a conventional approach to such problems, I would advise using a supplement which is designed to improve the way joints lubricate themselves. They help cartilage, membranes, blood vessels, ligaments and bone to function normally. I suggest you give a supplement containing glucosamine, MSM, and chondritin in any combination to normalise joint function and improve nutrition to cartilage.

Don't panic though. The prognosis is very good and you may never have a problem. Although the windgalls may look unsightly, with time and an appropriate approach to them they can reduce in size. This is however on the basis that you know exactly what is going on with your horse. Regardless of it not being a serious injury at the moment you are best to know exactly where you stand now (with x rays) in order to prevent more serious injury in the future.
I would not be put off buying a horse with this problem, depending on age, but do be aware that essentially it means that there is an underlying weakness somewhere.

 

[shadowboy]

thanks, it was nice to hear from someone who had some useful info on the subject. As it is i decided against the horse as i didnt feel we clicked, but i love TB types so will keep looking. Many thanks for the info though!

 

[vicijp]

This sounds a lot like a horse im selling. The vet says it will not cause him any problems due to the scans and ex rays performed. He assures us it will pass on a 5* vetting, which the horse is open to.
If it is indeed you who have been to see my horse, and made an offer, do you think it would not be polite to ring me and say you have changed your mind. Especially seeing as the last time I spoke to you, I was to deliver him today.
Im sorry if it is not you, but from your previous posts it does seem likely.

 

[PiebaldHorse]

shadowmonkey, hope you let the seller know, nothing worse than waiting around for someone to make a decision

 

[severnmiles]

Our old mare has several windgalls on her hind legs and hunts all day long with no problem. One of the 4* horses I used to look after had a huge one on her hind leg and has since completed Badminton and Burghley.

 

[shadowboy]

Hello there, as far as i am aware I have not been to see your horse unless you are a married woman who showed me your gelding with her husband who was actually the one who rode him up for me. The horse was very sweet but had a massive windgall the size of a large egg when they had told me in their words "its like a little puffy bit". I see this appears common in racehorses. And if you message me i am happy to have a chat with you on the phone (wont post numer on here though lol) People here have been very helpful actually about it- i have been to see loads and loads of horses and have found issues with most of them- i didnt think it was so hard to find something for sale for £2500 that didnt have major problems! But anyway thanks guys for your help- and having read the post on timewasters- I am very insusted to think that you guys thought it was me! I have to admit it was crazy to see how it may be similar but i guess there must be tones of horses for sale as ive seen my fair share but i take your point on discussing viewed horses here and will no longer do so- but i have to admit that you guys have helped rule out about 4 potentials- so i actually find it quite useful.
Thanks guys any message me if anyone out there has a nice TB aound 15.2 for sale! Ive been looking for last 3 months!

 

[PiebaldHorse]

Ive been looking for a month now and my best mate bought her irish draught mare, after spending over 8 months looking!!!

 

[Tempest]

Basically they're enlargements of the digital flexor tendon sheath and don't cause lameness at all. They are cosmetic defects only ordinarily.

If the horse is lame then it needs further investigating to check it not just fluid round the tendon and that its not something more sinister.

If you want to show your horse and want them to 'disappear' then providing they are just windgalls, sometimes if you compress and massage them they will go down.

If a horse is of the heavier breed types - so hunters in particular its likely to get them as it gets older. If you feed oil as part of a well managed diet and manage exercise well it helps with joints so its less likely to develop them earlier.

Many nowadays automatically boot a horse when its ridden - there is a school of thought that says if you don't boot, but ensure you use good fitness programmes, that your horse will better develop good musculature, tendons and ligaments and maintain healthier joints and be less likely to develop such as wind galls until old age.

That is actually the school that I subscribe to and though our older hunters and point to pointers do have windgalls, they are cosmetic only. I also suspect they have done more work than most horses over there life times and I'm talking about hunters over 17 years of age and still routinely doing 2 hours minimum work a day and during the season 4 days hunting 4 - 6 hours