Would you still jump?

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marmite8

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My mare has developed a splint - it is hard with no heat & she is not lame at all.

I have given her 3 days off but supposed to be jumping on Sunday. Should I go, or will I be doing her damage?

It would be on a surface, only discovery height.
 
personally i wouldnt risk it, when my boy was a 4yo he developed a splint and it took quiet a while to settle down, with lots of ice and arnica
 
when my horse got a splint I put a similiar post on this site for advice and was told to chuck him out in a field for three months and forget about him. I actually got the vet out after 3 days as I though he had a tendon problem and there was no bony splint formation as in previous times. The vet palpated his leg and said it was a splint on the inside near fore and the swelling around the area gave the impression of a tendon. This was on the Tuesday, the following Sunday I had two novice dressage classes I'd entered and my vet told me to bandage him and see how he was warming up. Then I said I'd booked in for a mini one day event the weekend after that and he said he thought he'd probably be okay. I ice cupped the injury religoulsy but didn't apply DMSO and like the vet said he was absolutely fine for both events. I even had him turned out as the vet said as long as he didn't race around he'd be fine and as he's so colicky I didn't want to risk leaving him in.

In answer to your question I think you are pushing it a bit for Sunday hon, but having said that if there is no heat/lameness which would be expected when forming then try him in some decent exercise bandages (gamgee underneath if possible).

I firmly believe that the vets advice was dead right.

a) ice cup the injury as much as three times a day if possible.
b) put support bandages on when exercised - these are better than boots, one sj round won't hurt him in bandages
c) do NOT ride on a soft surface (apparently this can cause more damage) but instead walk on harder surface for few days building up to intervals of trot.
d) if the horse is lame give more time off ridden work until splint is fully formed.
 
There is an old wives tale about using lemon on a splint to keep them small. Anyone done this?
 
Thanks guys

Applecart - that's very helpful thank you.
I might see how he is with bandages. If she was lame it would obviously be a no brain decision, but she looks & feels great atm!

The splint is bony and hard now, no swelling so I am guessing it has formed already (though god knows when). Had a word with my vet & he said to take it easy but if she's not lame he can remain in work - still not decided!

lec - no idea about the lemon but strikes me that is an old wives tale that should remain so! The only thing I can think of behind that is the antiseptic/ astringent properties of lemon juice.
smile.gif
 
I am going to go against the grain here - both my horses have thrown splints in the past and neither times have they had a day of issue with them. If they are hot/swollen/sore then fine, treat accordingly, but if they are hard and cold and not sore, and work doesn't change this, I don't know what there is to be gained by not working them?
 
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There is an old wives tale about using lemon on a splint to keep them small. Anyone done this?

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I did, didn't work! However, I did have some success with Splintex on an old splint (buy it from the USA, its much cheaper even with postage!).

If its on a surface that you're jumping, she might be ok but I dont know if Id risk it - probably not. But saying that, your horse could run around when turned out and you cant stop them doing that so I guess you have to put it in perspective.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am going to go against the grain here - both my horses have thrown splints in the past and neither times have they had a day of issue with them. If they are hot/swollen/sore then fine, treat accordingly, but if they are hard and cold and not sore, and work doesn't change this, I don't know what there is to be gained by not working them?

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agree,, my old pony was prone to splints. they were NEVER warm of swollen. just hard and cold and was NEVER lame with them and if one appeared and was cold, hard and he was sound we didnt do anything to it.
 
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