Windgalls!

[TeaganW]

My 3yr old filly has seemed to develop windgalls on both hind legs noticeably after beginning lunging education! The first few times of lunging she was pratting about in the school jumping onto her hind legs so do you think this could have caused them?
Also how would you treat them without any surgery/popping as I've heard that they just fill again. She is currently out in the day and in at night, so would it be best to bandage and keep in or just bandage at night when she is already in?
Thank you.

 

[Red-1]

Yes, lungeing a 3 year old could cause them, especially if she was leaping/running round.

I would stop lungeing for now. TBH, I would leave her over winter and start again in spring.

I would cold hose for 20 mins 3 times a day for a few weeks too. I have found that new windgalls can settle back down if they were caused by an incident rather than poor conformation.

In spring I would make sure you are not using a small lunge pen with ruts. A larger school with a good surface will allow her to move with better balance rather than hooning round. If they are obedient in hand then teaching to lunge (preferably on a warm, still day) is more likely to be a calm affair than teaching them to run round off their heads.

Personally, once they understand the mechanics of it, I prefer to long rein.

As for bandages, I could use them just overnight but not too tight. I tend to use a stable boot though, less chance of them being too tight.

 

[be positive]

I agree with Red, she may not be ready to cope with work, if you want to do something to start her education get her walking out in straight lines on long reins rather than circles in a school, or even just in hand walks to see the world, I would turn out as much as possible and not bandage her, they rarely cause any problems but are a usually a sign that the limbs have been under stress.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Excellent advice above, stop lunging! Lunging is a skill that many horse owners don't really have, it isn't about going round in circles and 3 yr old horses don't need to know how to do either version. Long-reining or walking in-hand would be far more beneficial for her.