Windgalls, also known as windpuffs, are a type of swelling located at the back of and slightly above the fetlock joint on a horse’s leg. There are two different types of windgalls:
Articular Windgall: This is an enlargement of the fetlock joint capsule.
Non-Articular Windgall: More commonly, this is a swelling of the protective digital flexor tendon sheath.
These swellings are usually soft, round, filled with fluid, and measure approximately 2 cm in diameter. They are often dismissed as an inevitable side effect of an active life. Many apparently normal horses in full work have slight windgalls due to digital flexor tendon sheath swelling, particularly in the hindlimbs.
The amount of swelling may vary according to the environmental temperature, being less obvious in cold weather and larger in hot weather. Work often results in some reduction in size, whereas stable rest may result in accumulation of fluid and greater swelling (stocking up).
Windgalls are usually not hot, not painful, and do not cause lameness in a horse. However, if the digital sheath becomes inflamed, it will secrete excess fluid, resulting in distension of the tendon sheath, which may present as fluid swelling that extends from mid-cannon bone to mid-pastern at the back of the fetlock.
They are often associated with general wear and tear, particularly in response to hard work or increased exercise levels. Horses with poor conformation, poor hoof balance, or those worked on hard ground or deep-going, particularly when they are young, can develop windgalls. Injuries to the ligaments, tendons, and the fetlock joint capsule can also lead to windgalls developing.
Hot swelling, or bowed tendons are a different issue, although the method of treatment for lower-limb lameness is generally the same. If the swelling is hot, or the swelling is on the front of the cannon bone, or the horse is lame, rest is recommended.
Managing Windgalls
Windgalls are often found in the fetlock area but can also occur in other joints. While windgalls are usually not painful, they can indicate underlying issues that need attention.
Managing windgalls in horses involves a combination of treatments and preventive measures:
Cold Therapy: Reducing tissue temperature by methods such as cold hosing or using ice boots can help. Using ice wraps after exercise is one way of enhancing your horse’s cool-down routine.
We have stable boots that include an insert that you can freeze. They come in singles, pairs or a set of 4.
Soak the insert in water, ring-out, and then keep in your freezer. They are infinitely reusable. Apply the ice boots after exercise. If you are out, apply the ice boots for the float ride home.
Supportive wraps: We have a huge range of brushing boots on the site. They're not just pretty! We also have a range of fleece wraps that you can use to support your horse's lower limbs during exercise. You can use them to wrap over icepacks, or over poultices and they are machine-washable, meaning they are reusable, unlike vet-wrap.
Rest: Ensuring your horse has enough days off with turnout and a varied exercise regime can also help with the prevention and management of windgalls. Working your horse on different surfaces and avoiding doing too much of the same exercise is also important. How deep is the sand in your round yard or arena? Why do you train them on deep sand, when generally they compete on grass?
Natural anti-inflammatories: You can add Sound Advice Turmeric Joint Mix to your horse’s diet as these ingredients are anti-inflammatory, and contain the building blocks of connective tissue and help with tendon lubricity.
Ensure your horse is getting a balanced trim. Watch the video below to see how the landing on the sole plane effects the joints above the hoof, and just how much flexion is required by a horse in flight.
If the hoof is not balanced, the joints above will have to compensate to stabilise the limb, which will inevitability result in inflammation over time.
We also love Tuff Rock Poultice. It's such a handy product with many uses for horse health. We use it on small wounds, as a poultice for hoof abscess as well as limb swelling.
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