Wingalls :S

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Bethcyrilandchina

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Hi! My old 25 year old horse has got wingalls in his hind left leg. We ask the farrier what it was at first and he said wingalls and just to rest him. So thats what we did. A month or so has gone by with rest and his leg hasnt changed. Its still swollen. He isnt lame on it, but can be a bit iffy when pciking out other hind leg, but can weight bear on it. Is he okay to ride? How do i help reduce the swelling? Will it ever go away?
Thanks
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You could also try claying it after you've cold hosed, then bandage on top. That's what I'd try before calling vet (NB put a bit of plastic bag/ damp feed sack on top of clay to stop it ruining gamgee!)
 
please get your vet to check him out first.

quite often the problem is on the opposite leg and the extra weight bearing on the good leg causes extra strain on tendons/ tendon sheath and you get windgalls but the real problem is in the opposite leg - and may fit it with why he's iffy on the opposite leg.

Hosing won't make much difference a month on, nor will clay, boots etc etc, so you really need to get him properly checked before you decide what's best for him. It may be nothing and just wear and tear on older legs, but at least you'll know before you start working him.
 
As a previous poster said, it could be inflammatino of the tendon, but more probably tendon sheath. As stated previously i would consult your vet.
 
Neo-ice ice-wraps are a very effective means of controlling wingalls. They can be wrapped around the affected area with some compression and they draw heat from the leg over 2 hours, suppressing the swelling.
 
Windgalls rarely ever go away - they are made up of fluid leaked from the tendon sheath and are considered a sign of work.

If your horse is sound then just carry on with his work. You can put on stable bandages if he is standing in - they will reduce the size of the windgalls while on the horse but the windgalls will be just the same sometime after the bandages have come off.
 
As Evelyn has said, windgalls are just a symptom of an underlying problem. The underlying problem is usually damage to the joint and in a 25yr old horse it's almost certainly due to wear and tear on veteran legs and feet. The fluid you feel when you press the windgalls is joint fluid that has leaked out of the joint. As long as your horse is sound, I wouldn't do anything else at all except watch for signs of pain or discomfort and deterioration. You could start him on Cosequin which can help joint function even in veteran horses where some wear and tear is inevitable. It's not cheap but it's good and does what it says on the tin. My 25yr old - who worked hard for his living as a riding school horse for many years - is doing very well on it with no overt signs of joint problems or stiffness.
 
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