Windgalls ?

[Boxers]

What are they?

How did they get there?

Will they go away?

How can I help them go away (if possible)?

Thanks x

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

my horse has got them. They will never go away and are caused by a horse being used on hard ground or worked hard.

Some one with more experiance will explain a bitty better.

 

[Hemirjtm]

Hi,

My horse has got windgalls, he's an ex endurance racer and had them when I got him. So I assume its from the hard work that his legs had to do, not quite sure though. I'm not too worried about them, until they start changing, then I just moniter his work a bit more, and just do slightly less than I would normally do!

As to getting rid of them, you could bandage them tightly but unless they are causing a horse pain I was advised to just keep them either bandaged or booted for work.

Sometimes they go on their own, unless they are very big. My horses front ones wont go, and people are shocked at them, but I moniter it and just keep his legs cool after very hard work! But his backs ones come and go depending on the level of work he is doing, ie at the moment he is being ridden 3 times a week and they are not there, but when he was being ridden 6 times a week on harder ground they were up.

hope this helps

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

also global herbs do a windgalls supplement.

i havent used it but i did a post about them on here ages ago too to find out whats caused them and someone ised it.

 

[ruby1]

One of ours had windgalls,they are more of a cosmetic issue than anything else from my experience.She got them when she was very young and as we bred her i know she wasn't worked hard,some horses may just be more pre-disposed to them than others perhaps,but they do say they are caused by working on hard ground etc. Initially they can be sore and painful but after a very small time they usually don't cause any future problems.The mare we had with them is now 11 and they have never caused her any problems and she was perhaps 5 when she got them.
They never go away,the swelling will always be there and as far as i know there is nothing you can do to make them any better once there foormed.

 

[Rudey]

I would tend to agree with all of the above posts. My 16 year old gets them in the warmer weather, especially as the ground is firmer. They almost disappear in the winter with the cold.

I did alot of research on them on the internet last year, and it would seem you need to support their legs and boot them up, but also, importantly, to try keep them cool as well! Initially I used those sport wrap type boots trying to find maximum support for him, but they just seemed to make them hotter and even larger. I then bought the N.E.W Cross Country Airoflow Boots and found my answer! Excellent support and also maximising a cooler effect on his legs then any other boots!

On hot days, I use to ride really early morning, or later evening, his legs use to be cooler then. I have used all of the cooling gels and clay products, and I found they helped xx

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Windgalls are synovial fluid leaking out of damaged joints. Some come and go, some come and STAY, some are linked with lameness, some aren't. It is an indication that joint damage has occurred. Windgalls don't CAUSE lameness, it is the joint damage that causes the lameness AND the windgalls. You do need to remember that they're there though because longer term, the underlying joint issue could become a problem.

 

[wendyII]

yup can be a sign of something more sinister OCD DJD and worth investigating especially if its seen in young horses and comes and goes with work.