Swollen Legs in Horses
Reducing swelling in your horse’s legs
Puffy legs after a night in the stable, “filled legs” after a trailer journey or a hard session: stocking up is common and usually harmless. Movement, cold water and care with Dead Sea mud and salt help the legs get back to normal.
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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What is stocking up in horses?
It is a build-up of lymphatic fluid in the lower legs, mostly around the fetlocks and cannons. Moving this fluid back up depends on movement: when a horse stands still in the stable for hours, it pools and the legs look like columns.
Other factors play a part: a diet too rich for the work done, heat, hard ground, intense exercise, or a minor knock to the tendons and joints. Some horses are simply more prone to it than others.
Swollen legs: harmless stocking up or a warning sign?
- Harmless: the leg stays cool or slightly warm, the horse isn't lame, and the swelling goes down after a few minutes of walking.
- Keep an eye on it: a finger mark stays when you press on the swollen area for a few seconds: this is oedema.
- Emergency: marked heat, severe pain, lameness, a temperature or dullness can point to lymphangitis. Call your vet straight away.
Stocking up and oedema: what helps
Movement. Turnout, walking in hand, daily outings: this is the first line of prevention.
Cold water. Cold hosing from the hoof upwards for 10 to 15 minutes per leg, followed by a gentle massage.
Dead Sea care:
- Thermequin Terre: on the legs after a night in the stable or a journey, it boosts circulation and helps the swelling go down. A thin layer in contact with the skin, for at least 30 minutes, ideally until dry. Chilled in the fridge for an hour, it also cools. Under bandages, put a layer of wet brown paper in between.
- Dead Sea Salt: 3 to 6 g per litre of water, sponged on or used as a leg soak in a sock or boot. The quick option when there's no time to let the mud work.
Swollen legs: frequently asked questions
Why are my horse's legs swollen in the morning?
Usually because of standing in the stable: without movement, lymph doesn't drain well. If the swelling goes after a few minutes of walking and the leg stays cool, it is harmless stocking up.
How long should I leave the mud on?
At least 30 minutes, ideally until completely dry. Then brush or wash it off.
Mud or salt: which one?
Mud when you have time to leave it on, at the end of the day or after work; salt for quick relaxation, sponged on or in a sock.
When should I call the vet?
As soon as the leg is hot and painful, the horse is lame, has a temperature or is off its food: these signs can indicate lymphangitis.
