Popped splint

[bonesmom]

Not my horse (he's having the winter off the couch potato), but one of the girls at my barn has a 7-year-old OTTB mare that has recently popped a splint, a BIG splint.
I don't know a lot about them, but from what I know, I think she should be resting her (30 days off) and cold hosing it.
Her partner was continuing to work her up until this weekend, but finally the mare got too ouchy, and a few people at the barn questioned them for still riding her with the injury.

What else can she do to help the mare?

[Big Tee©]

First, with her being sore, it should be looked at and go from there; a vet has to ascertain there is no ligament involvement as that makes a difference in what you do. Last horse I had that popped a splint, I was lucky that it happened in winter and there was no ligaments involved so I just booted him out in the snow for a bit every day that the windchill wasn't too horrible and he come out of it sound as he had ever been. If there is no access to snow, ice the leg 3 times a day, 20 minutes at a time, dry and massage with whatever smells good and doesn't irritate and no wrapping required. When the gimping stops, handwalk or pony lightly for a while then resume a light version of regular work until condition has returned. If the bump is big, put light shin boots on so it doesn't get whacked when work resumes but they may not be needed after the first while - if the horse hits, you will see marks on the boot and hitting is a possibility when starting back.

If there is a great amount of soft tissue damage, it will take longer than just a popped splint. With soft tissue damage, the same protocol applies but I would be wrapping the offending leg every night to protect the injury site.

[TeachU2Ride]

I suggest xrays to see if there's a fracture, which may involve more than simple rest. In the case of fracture, especially, the suspensory ligament can be involved (either by the loose bone end, or by calcification as the bone heals). Knowing and, therefore, taking care of it at the outset (simple and fairly inexpensive surgery) will get the best results.

If there is no fracture and just a disruption of the interosseous ligament (which binds the splint bone to the cannon), rest, ice and perhaps compresson bandaging (to help keep the loosened splint from moving and irritating the underlying suspensory) usually creates great improvement within weeks. Once the splint is "set" (healed, with no further inflammation/heat lameness) regular turnout and work can resume. Agree with protective boots.