windgalls

[nicnag]

My 9 year old ISH mare has developed a windgall like swelling about a month ago on the inside of her near hind.This in itself was a bit strange as she hasn't done any hard or fast work over this summer and for a month before she was only lightly hacked, I reckon this must be the result of some shenanigans in the field!). There is no heat in it and it's pretty small (swelling is no bigger than 1 inch at it's widest point). I have cold hosed it and she is not sore or lame at all but the swelling has not reduced at all. Vets advice is to keep an eye on it as it's obviously not causing any trouble at the moment. I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and if the swelling did eventually go? I'm a bit blank as although I've had horses for over 20 years I've never had any leg problems on any of them so went into melt down panic!

 

[annie02]

Wow, I wish I had your luck....20 years with no leg problems!

Is it soft or hard to the touch?

As long as it is soft I wouldnt worry to much unless it starts to get bigger or cause her discomfort. I know a lot of jumpers who have windpuffs on their hind or front legs and they never cause a problem.

 

[nicnag]

Soft at the moment.

I got laughed at when I went looking for another horse as I saw one with a splint, wasn't huge but it was there, the owner asked what i thought of him and i mentioned the splint - she said she didn't have a horse in her yard that didn't have splints or windgalls and why was I worried!
I've been lucky with legs - it's all the other bits that have gone wrong!

 

[annie02]

I wouldn't worry to much then, just keep an eye on it. I always say better safe than sorry, much better to ask about it than not and have something go wrong
Cheers

 

[MagicMelon]

My boy got windgalls last year in his fronts after having to increase his work for eventing fitness. They've stayed ever since but appear far more puffy when the ground is hard (in the summer etc.) so right now they aren't very obvious. To be honest they havent caused my boy any problems and I have continued to ride him throughout. I do make sure I cold hose his legs and put on cooling gel after Ive ridden on hard ground or done fast work. After XC I always put on cold boots after as well. But other than that I dont do much and they are fine.

 

[LEC]

My 15yo has just had a swine of a windgall - it was huge. He has had them for a while but this one just kept growing. Vet decided to draw it and also gave him a shot of cortizone and it has come down tonnes. Stable bandages are brilliant and make a huge difference, find icing does not do very much. We were really worried it was a tendon but vet confirmed it was a windgall.

 

[tazet]

you are deff lucky with legs and like the others have said i would not worry about it i know lots of animals with them all varying sizes some go with work but come back after rest. i have 6 driving ponies and all do the same work and some have them and some don't. the same goes for splints. just shows that no matter what you do some are going to get them and there is not that much you can do about it there is no sure fired way to never get them and once they are there they stay.