Posted by Laura McCumber on September 04, 2002 at 13:19:31:
In Reply to: Re: Wind Puffs! posted by Patty Stiller on August 31, 2002 at 11:16:25:
: : : Recently I happened to notice that my 5 yr old standardbred gelding(riding horse) has soft squishiness around his back fetlock area on both sides. I never noticed this before or looked for that matter but my farrier said it was wind puffs. My gelding raced briefy but was retired because he kept breaking pace. I have had him now for about 7 months and have never noticed any lameness and when I had some training done he was worked pretty good and he never became lame. Does any one have any idea why this might occur and if I can do anything to make it better? I'd appreciate any input , thanks!
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: : Kym,
: : Retired racehorses often have an "injury" that ends their racing carrer but does not hinder them in their second careear. Windpuffs is one of these. Are these new? or were they there when you got the horse and maybe you did not notice them?
: : Windpuffs are seen as distensions or swellings on both sides of the posterior lateral aspects of the fetlock joint, just behind where the cannon bone enters the joint. They are caused by a buildup of synovial fluid in the fetlock joint which is in turn caused by overwork. Race trainers will reduce small windpuffs by blistering followed by sweat wraps. Larger windpuffs are difficult to reduce and may be with the horse his entire life as blemishes. Windpuffs are usually not an indication of lameness.
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: : So if they have always been there its an old racing blemish and can be ignored. If they are new be aware that windpuffs are often the first sign of chronic overwork.
: : Long toes and toe grabs in race horses are felt to be a contributory cause. Your action items if this is a new problem might be to make sure your farrier has breakover correct, and to speak to your trainer about resting the horse for several weeks.
: : George
: As George pointed out, old windpuffs are usually just signs of joint "wear and tear" where the "sack" that holds the joint fluid gets distended and the puffiness you feel is the joint fliud inside the (normally tight) sack.
: I don't worry about old windpuffs IF the horse is sound, but if the swelling is new, or the horse is the least bit sore then a vet check may vbe warranted to examine the joints more closely and nip any problem in the bud.
: Even if the horse is sound at the moment, if he is balanced and shod carefully according to natural balance recommendations, it will help insure the least amount of future stress in the joints.
: Patty
Kym -
This would be articular or tendinous wind puffs ?
I'm assuming by the location , your discribing tendinous
because you've statred BEHIND his fetlock .
There are two types of windpuffs / windgall / roadpuff / hygromata . They're distinquished by their location .
ARTICULAR windpuffs - An exostosis which develops in the dorsal fetlock area is called an osselet . Distention of the fetlock joint capsule is called ARTICULAR windpuffs .
TENDINOUS windpuffs - Are distentions of the SHEATH of the deep flexor tendon . The swelling is farther back between the suspensory ligament and flexor tendon .
( moving her hands in unison 5" apart and in a horizontal
circle of 2' and singing )
HOOof there it is ... HOOof there it is - Laura McCumber