Low bow on rear leg from impact - possible?

[Blueeyedroan]

My lovely mares who resided together for months got separated this fall due to some differences in dietary needs. Side by side paddocks , sharing a rail fenceline.
Despite almost a year of life together this resulted in them going butt to butt and double barreling each other through the fence, successfully busting 4 solid wooden rails in half with their hind legs and inflicting some nasty butt cheek hoof injuries on both parties. Thankfully the idiots were not shod. My BO was just thrilled.

The hardy little roan walked away with nothing more than skinned bum cheeks.
The Thoroughbred had a largely swollen right rear lower leg. Nothing broke the skin, but there was swelling and a suspicious “bow” on the very lower rear tendon area.
Amazingly this was accompanied by very little lameness. Slightly sore but no noticeable limp. BO figured it was just plain deep tissue bruising from using said leg as a battering ram to break fence rails.
Leg got cold hosed, ice booted, and since I have two horses and it was the end of the season she hasn’t been worked since.

The swelling seems to be gone. And even when she runs around no swelling returns. Zero lameness is detectable.
But, to me , it looks like there’s still a slight “low bow” that didn’t go away. It feels firm, and cold. Of course she’s hairy now too so that makes it almost impossible to judge.

Now I’m freaking out wondering if I completely ignored a bowed tendon and it wasn’t just a bad impact bruise.
I’ve never seen a bowed tendon not cause super acute lameness…. But also this is an old lifer with 46 starts under her belt and didn’t retire until she was almost 8. She’s the opposite of a dramatic thoroughbred, she makes hiding pain her entire personality. Tough guy vibes.

Now I’m wondering if it’s worth a fat vet bill and an angry boss/missed day of work to ultrasound my perfectly sound and content horse? I’ve never seen a rear bow or a horse sound on a fresh bow. But there’s a first for everything?

Also…. The two lovelies are back together now so they can continue to bite each other and kick each other NOT THROUGH THE DAYUM FENCE .

[endlessclimb]

If she’s sound I wouldn’t worry about it. If it is, or if it isn’t - fit her up slowly.

If it’s bugging you to know, I’d ultrasound at spring vet check.

[exvet]

I agree with endlessclimb. It’s certainly possible that the thickening is just scar tissue (not associated with the tendon itself) or slow resorbing edema from the trauma. Microtears in the tendon sheath can certainly result in edema and not necessarily result in obvious lameness unless stressed further.

[luvmyhackney]

Unless swelling gets worse, I’d give her a little bit of time off like another week and then lite work to make sure no reaction, then back to full work.

She’s probably fine.

[Demerara_Stables]

I have a similar dummy who chooses to double barrel when anyone gets near her food.

She has multiple places on her hind legs that got swollen and just never returned to normal. No lameness once the initial bruising healed, even back in full work and jumping small fences. I’d keep an eye on it, but not fret unless she’s lame or swelling/heat returns.