Tendons and Windgalls in Horses
Caring for your horse’s tendons
A warm tendon after work, a windgall on the fetlock, swelling after a knock: a horse’s tendons take enormous strain with every stride. Tendinitis should always be checked by a vet; for prevention and alongside treatment, Dead Sea mud, massage balm and salt all have a place in the routine.
Massage balm
- Three anti-inflammatory oils
- Gently warming
- Shea butter
- A dab per area
- Keep below 20 °C
39,00 €
Mud & Minerals maxi pack
- 5 kg mud, 100 ml cream and 1 L shampoo
- Three complementary products
- Covers limbs, skin and coat
- Around 23 mud applications
Original price was: 175,00 €.150,00 €Current price is: 150,00 €.
Maxi red algae & argan pack
- 5 kg mud, 100 ml cream and 1 L shampoo
- Three complementary products
- For greys, whites and leg markings
- Hydrated coat and mane
Original price was: 175,00 €.150,00 €Current price is: 150,00 €.
Maxi sensitive pack
- 5 kg mud, 100 ml cream and 1 L Sensitive shampoo
- Three complementary products
- Sweet itch and irritated skin
- Calms the itching
Original price was: 175,00 €.150,00 €Current price is: 150,00 €.
Dead Sea salt
- Simple dosing
- Foot soaks
- The quick option
- Magnesium, potassium, calcium
From 14,50 €
Thermequin Terre — Dead Sea mud for horses
- 24% magnesium
- Neither clay nor marine mud
- One tub
- Won't dry the skin
From 44,00 €
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Tendinitis, windgalls, soft swellings: what are they?
Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon, often caused by too much or repeated strain: training that is too hard or too fast, jumping, hard or uneven ground, not enough warm-up, unsuitable shoeing. It tends to recur: scar tissue is stronger but less elastic than the original tendon.
Windgalls and other soft swellings are soft, fluid-filled swellings around the joints and tendon sheaths, especially at the fetlock, one of the hardest-working joints in the horse.
Tendinitis in horses: signs to watch for
- A warm, swollen area along the tendon, sometimes "bowed" in shape.
- Pain when you press on the tendon.
- Lameness of varying degrees; at rest, the horse takes weight off the leg.
Tendinitis needs a prompt veterinary diagnosis, often by ultrasound. Rest, from a few weeks to several months, and a gradual return to work are decided with your vet.
Preventing and easing tendinitis: what helps
Prevention. A gradual warm-up, longer in cold weather, a gradual increase in work, varied surfaces, and care after every hard session.
Dead Sea care:
- Thermequin Terre: on a warm tendon, a windgall or a knock with swelling, before inflammation sets in. Chilled in the fridge for an hour, it cools; under bandages, put a layer of wet brown paper in between.
- Massage Balm: a hazelnut-sized amount and two minutes of massage, before exercise for its gentle warming effect, after to limit stiffness and keep suppleness. Arnica and shea butter are traditionally used on sprains and stiffness.
- Dead Sea Salt: 3 to 6 g per litre, in a sock or boot on the legs, when there's no time to let the mud work.
For a complete programme, the maxi packs bring together the mud, the cream and a shampoo.
Our articles on horse tendons
Horse tendons: frequently asked questions
What should I do about a warm tendon?
Rest the horse, cool the area (cold water, mud from the fridge) and call the vet if the heat persists or the horse is lame.
Is a windgall serious?
Often not: many windgalls are cold, painless and don't affect work. A windgall that appears suddenly, is warm or comes with lameness should be examined.
Mud, balm or salt: which one?
Balm before and after exercise, for two minutes of massage; mud at the end of a session, when it can stay on for at least 30 minutes; salt for quick relaxation. They can be combined.
Can tendinitis come back?
Yes, it often does. A very gradual return to work and regular care after exercise help reduce the risk.
