Windgalls

[Portia]

B has developed windgalls on both hinds, happened about a month back when the ground was so very hard. She's not lame and they're not particularly big.

Am debating wheter or not to start her on a joint supplement, read an online article which suggested doing so would ease any associated arthritic changes (she's 6yo). Was wondering what other NR do?

[skye06]

My 8yr old has slight windgalls on her left hind. They don't bother her and vet said they shouldn't effect her for jumping so I don't do anything at the moment.

[teabiscuit]

I used naf 5* which reduced my horses throughpins to half size after he'd had them for 5 years so I was really pleased with it, it has chondroitin, msm, cortaflex, anti oxidents in it.

[Portia]

thanks everyone. TB, yours sounds similar to the one am considering for B, mne also has sulphur and vit/mins added. My only concern is that madam is currently living out, and gets a handful of chaff for tea, nothing else. We wanted to boost her energy levels this winter and were going to start her on shorts too, but dont want to overdo the supplements. Think I'm going to call a nutritionist!

[GoneBust]

Sorry to sound a bit dim, but what actually are windgalls? Do they only effect the horses legs?

[Herbie's mummy]

I have heared of naf 5* and it is meant to be quite good.
If they are not bothing her then leave them, just take more care like avoid hard ground or if you do ride on it pop cooling jell on then bandage up this prevents swelling and the like (i do it after a long hack,show day,XC ect)
But unless you do alot of showing then don't panic too much just keep an eye on them.

[Portia]

They're basically a build-up of fluid within the joint space or tendon sheath (the tendon looks like a thick piece of ribbon which runs inside another thin sheath of tissue, synovial fluid is the lubricant which allows the tendon to easily slide within the sheath.

It seems to be a fairly common occurence, one causative factors is thought to be consistent impact on hard ground (hard to avoid until recently!).

Have a look at this for more info..
http://www.freevetadvice.co.uk/windgall.htm (it was the section on nutrition & supplementation that set me off!)

[domane]

Cherry (h/w irish cob) is currently lame and it may be due to a windgall. What is the best treatment? Should I keep her in for a couple of days to rest it or continue to turn her out so that she doesn't get stiff?

Thanks

[Herbie's mummy]

Cherry (h/w irish cob) is currently lame and it may be due to a windgall. What is the best treatment? Should I keep her in for a couple of days to rest it or continue to turn her out so that she doesn't get stiff?

Thanks


see this is what sooooo many people wonder.......tyhey some times say if you work them then the fluid goes down......no idea really mine have never had them.
gggrrrr i hate windgulls LOL i suppose you could quickly phone the vet?:)

[teabiscuit]

thug's windgalls just appeared, he never showed any lameness with them so i just ignored them.
do they commonly cause lameness?

[Herbie's mummy]

no not always.
There is a horse i know who had 2 huge ones of both back legs and they carried on as normal did not effect him in any way.
No lameness or any thing.

[teabiscuit]

Cherry (h/w irish cob) is currently lame and it may be due to a windgall. What is the best treatment? Should I keep her in for a couple of days to rest it or continue to turn her out so that she doesn't get stiff?

Thanks
how lame is she?
if she's hopping lame I'd keep her in, but as you haven't called the vet she obviously isn't hopping lame.

I like them out if they're not hopping lame because

1. keeps them from stiffening up
2. if you keep them in until they're healed they may go berserk when they go out again and reinjure themselves
3. the healing is taking place under stress, ie. i think the body heals stronger if you keep using it, as in current thinking on back pain in humans

[Portia]

B's just popped up one day. daughter had been jumping her, I did the super-groom bit and noticed them when her boots came off. Not caused any probs, they sometimes go away, then come back... tbh as they dont bother her, I've not got too fussed.