Bump on leg

Ok well I just noticed that my gelding had a hard bump on his hind right leg. I had a friend trot him out to check for soundness and I had been riding him right before I noticed and he isnt lame at all. There is no wound or scratch and it isnt soft and squishy. Its hard like the bone. It isnt on the tendon...it seems more like its on the bone.

He hasnt taken a lame step the entire two years I've owned him....could this be something old that I really just never noticed till today? I think I may have noticed it because I've spent more time today on the gound and grooming and working his feet over then I have ever...

An old injury that calcified came to mind...I don't know what else it could be...and ideas? Im not worried about it but im curious....plus I currently don't havethe funding to call the vet out...give me a week or two and I will.

I figure it has to be something old cause he isnt lame, there is no heat, no swelling. Its very likely that he has had it the entire time I've owned him and I've just never noticed...I havent started taking to checking his legs over till recent and even then I focus more on this feet...Nothing but the hard bump. I would put up pictures but don't have a camera right now...I did sorta draw up a picture though...you have to forgive the fact that its on paint and not very descriptive...its more or less to give you an idea for location of the bump...

So do you think its anything to worry about? And do you think im right thinking its an old injury that may have just calcified some? Ill try and get actual pictures soon.

Could be a bone splint.... If I were you I would get a vet to check it out

Ok...I had forgotten about splints... Ill see what I can do on the vet...It may take a week or two before I can take him as I have to pay my college enrollement this week and that's going to waste me and my parents...

If its a splint would he still seem completely sound, no limp or lameness or pain? Also what can I do to help treat it in the mean time? I've never had to deal with this situation before...also what can I do to help prevent splints in the other legs if this is a splint? Would riding him in splint boots help cause I have a few pair...I wont ride him again till he sees the vet this is just for future ref.

My horse has one of them on the hind leg the vet checked it his diagnosis...if its not affecting them in anyway you can tell its not serious you keep an eye on it any change in it at all you get the vet to check it untill its affecting them though you don't go at it. Most likely its a splint. You could ring your vet and just ask him over the phone that's what I do I don't believe in calling them out for stupid things when vets cost money your own gut instict and knowledge let you know when to call the vet don't doubt yourself as much

Alright...Thank you for that opinion. It isnt affecting him at all and I had planned to call for an opinion. My vet isnt to pricey and is close enough I can trailer up there and not have to pay for a house call so if It comes to that I can do it. I also have a vet tech buddy who would prob look at him for free...but I never know the next time she will be in town.

So your saying leave it alone unless it gets obviously worse or it starts hurting him? Should I still be taking precautions when riding? I have two sets of splint boots...should I be using them everytime I ride? (im guessing splint boots help with splints thus the name...I may be having a blonde moment though) Anything I can do to help prevent it from getting worse? He currently isnt in much work...He is ridden once a week for a few 4-12 miles depending on where I ride. This is usually don't at a trot. Summer is our busy season...I usually ride 3-4 times a weeks....though I have two horses now so I may split the number of rides between them.

I would like to avoid a vet trip if I can...any more opinons? So far its one for the vet one for just watch it and no one has answered any of my new questions on treating and preventing the splints if it is one...

Im going to look up info on splints now...

Sounds like a splint to me too.

They can make a horse dead lame or not lame at all.


I would suggest you have the vet look at it anyway just to make sure it is not something that will cause a problem if it does not heal properly.

My horse has the exact same thing. However she got it about a year ago and I just got her a month ago. She has always been fine, and never favored that leg so I think she is fine.

Thank you guys....Im glad to hear the opinion is that it isnt serious.

I was just looking at some info from a bunch of different sites...they all said basiclly the same thing. A new splint will most likely be hot, swell and cause pain...an old splint will be cold, no swelling, usually no pain, and that means its already healed itself. It also says splints on the hind are usually more trama enduced...it also mentioned blind splints but this splint doesnt fit the description. Does all this sound right? If so my boy has an old 'cold' splint.

The sites also recommended having a vet look at a splint even if its old...Im much less worried though after reading. Ill make a vet call for an over the phone opinion and Ill get a vet to look at him soon as I have decent funds...in the mean time ill keep a close eye on it.

Thank you everyone!

Yeah personally I would not go at it. It could be a brushing rub or a speedi cut though there usually locted higher up. Try booting him up for your next few rides and see does that make a difference? What is the skin under it like is it dry and flakey? Maybe call your vet describe it he will say what he thinks then get your friend to examine it a later day. I wouldnt be worrying really.