My western pleasure horse popped a splint on his right front leg, half way down the cannon bone, what should I do for it?

Question
What should I do for the splint he popped?  Also, my other horse is creaking and cracking when he moves.  He is only 6. I have tried supplements but he reacts to them and gets very nervous and anxious and is like riding a powder keg.  When he isn't on suplements e does well, except for sows where he can be a real handful because he is so excitable and looses focus.  Any suggestion?

Answer
Splints: This is essentially a broken bone, (although it could also be ligament damage in the young horse) and will require time to refuze the bone and to reattach to the cannon bone. Splints rarely occur in the hindlimbs, and are most normally on the inside of the forelegs, and often occur if care is not taken when riding conditions change.

The first thing to realize is that stall rest is the only long term solution when you find a splint. Often this means walking horses on soft ground and allowing them to graze while you stand there holding the lead... each day, for six weeks.

So, I start with 6 weeks of stall rest with good soft bedding. I change feed to compensate for the need for rest. More hay, less pellets. I walk them by hand, only with what they can take and keep them as quiet as possible. Also, cold water hosing the leg to remove heat for 25-40 minutes (a day, for at least a week, most often two weeks) to dull pain is the first step I take. I followed that by a wet, supportive clay poltice wrap for at least a week, maybe two, with some anti-inflamitories (often tablet or injectable bute by Vet Rx) included. After that, it's a slow process (another six weeks) of further healing and overall bidy strengthening.

Factors than can predispose to splints is poor trimming and shoeing, improper feeds/supplements, and strenous, sporatic exercise patterns (often seen with jumping young horses.) Also, consider using a supportive wrap (polo bandages or a splint boot, properly used) are good once a splint has occured, or when working a young horse.

Supplements are joint related. Something separate from a split. I'd limit these at this age. The creaking you mention concerns me at age 6, and a good vet consult is called for first. I'd also look for other brands of supplements and ask around. I've found it's very common for some difference in supplements from area to area. What works for me in Virginia, might not work as well for someone in Pennsylvania. But for most young horses (under 7), and when a vet agrees, it might be advisable to start slow with 1/2 dose of something like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate (CS), or methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and see how that goes. I had some good and bad experiences with things like Flex-Free, Cosequin and Corta-Flex. I've also had a good experience with a 1/2 level dose of Source (Sea weed supplement) - or even chaging the mix of feeds (pellets vs sweet feed vs higher protien mix) can help.

Try not to do/fix both at the same time... heal the splint quietly first, then work out what's going on with the joints.

Hope that helps! Sounds like you have some work ahead of you...