Last Updated on February 23, 2022 by Allison Price
It may seem like a new injury but the swelling around your fetlock could actually be an old injury.
Windpuffs are a form of soft swelling that is usually found on the horse’s fetlock. It is a remnant of an injury. The inflammation causes the tendon sheath, bursa, or joint capsule to stretch and then subsides. The fluid fills the structure, leaving it stretched. It is not important to have a mature or “set” windpuff.
These factors will help you determine if a swelling is a windpuff, or something more serious:
1. It can occur suddenly. It is more likely that the swelling appears suddenly after an acute injury. Even if the swelling appears suddenly, it may not have been noticed for some time.
2. Its feel. A windpuff feels like jelly and is good for horses that are standing normally. A windpuff can feel more like a marshmallow if the affected leg has been weighted.
An area with active inflammation, on the other hand, is likely to feel firmer when it is supported by weight and may feel warm to the touch.
3. How your horse feels. Temporary lameness can often be caused by the initial inflammation. A mature windpuff doesn’t make horses sore.
4. His reaction to a flexion testing. For at least 30 seconds, flex your fetlock and then let a helper jog your horse away. Gait will not be affected by a mature windpuff.
