A splint on a conformation horse

[californiatransplant]

I own a 4 year old hunter who was purchased to eventually do the conformation classes. Much to my dismay, he came in from the paddock with a fresh splint. He is not for sale. I would like him to be competitive in the conformation when/if he reaches that point.

Do we have it removed? Do we set it as tightly as possible? Do we keep weeping every time we look in his general direction or just accept that our otherwise flawless horse has this stupid blemish?

If we have it removed, does anyone have recommendations for good surgeons in the SC, GA, FL area? Will his insurance cover it?

Thank you all for any advice.

[DarkBayUnicorn]

How big is it? And how fresh?

My guy popped one at 2, and another between the two Cup Qualifiers for three year olds. He was 4th overall on the line and champion under saddle at the qualifiers. 8th and 8th with some strange judging at nationals.

Both times we caught it right away. Ice and poultice for a few days, then DMSO.

You cannot visually see those splints anymore, but perhaps a great lameness vet could find them on palpation. My guy is still every inch a conformation hunter prospect.

[findeight]

Insurance probably classifies this as a cosmetic blemish and elective surgery unless it actually interferes with normal function. Ask your agent and get a firm answer from the underwriter before getting it done if you want to try to claim it.

[LovesHorses]

Splintex Gold will make a hard splint virtually vanish.

[NancyM]

Fresh splints on a young horse are often large and scary looking. Often, they disappear entirely, given time. Cold therapy, and painting with a counter irritant can help too. Surgery always carries a risk.

Sometimes, goals change with horses, due to the reality of being horses. Flexability in the owner’s outlook is sometimes necessary. Good luck.

[Anne]

No surgery unless it’s lame, which can indicate that there’s an actual fracture in the splint bone. Those are rare. The conformation division is so small these days that this may not be the kiss of death that it once would have been, especially if you can get it cold, hard, and work on it. I have seen them disappear.

[IPEsq]

It will probably go away with time. My horse had an old and cold splint noted on his PPE at 4 years old. A year later, you couldn’t tell it was ever there.

[AltersAreUs]

First off, don’t panic.

My arab popped a splint at 5 out in the field. It looked bad … as in never going into the halter ring again, OMG, her leg is a destroyed bad. Thing is, as horrible as it looked, she was completely sound on it and my vet was of the “ain’t broke, don’t fix it” sort of vet.

We did ice & DMSO and within a few months, you couldn’t tell it’d ever happened. Leg looks completely normal. I’m sure a thorough PPE would turn something up but at this point in her life, an old splint would be the least of the findings. So see what your vet thinks and wait to see how it’s healing before you break out the scalpels. At his age, it could very well disappear and you’ll have your flawless conformation horse back again by spring.

[findeight]

@LovesHorses

Splintex Gold will make a hard splint virtually vanish.

Maybe. Maybe not. They often just go away over time.

[californiatransplant]

Thanks all! Vet was optimistic that it would ‘disappear’ within a year.

[kirbydog]

if you ever get a chance, watch the video The 3 Masters. Rodney Jenkins, George Morris, and Buck Brannaman (sp?) Rodney discussed conformation and hunters at length. His opinion is that a splint is a man made issue, so to speak, its a blemish not conformation. I showed one in the conformation that had one, but very correct everywhere else, and was beautiful and a great mover to boot. Only time it hurt us was when one with the whole package but no splint had a better round. He won several models, with the splint

[raisethebar]

My young hunter popped a split but was never lame on it. I made sure to ice it and take care of it. A year later I barely can notice it! Give it time. I thought I was going to pass out when I saw mine but I honestly do not notice it - I never believed anyone when they told me that but now I do

[californiatransplant]

thank you all so much!

[equest]

@IPEsq

It will probably go away with time. My horse had an old and cold splint noted on his PPE at 4 years old. A year later, you couldn’t tell it was ever there.

This was my experience. Of course, the irony is that mine bowed a tendon on the same leg. It healed but is visible. So that is the conformation defect now. Mine is not a conformation horse, in any event.