Hi! It's sounds like your horse has Stocking Up. This is common in horses that have spent a great deal of time in the stall, lack of exercise and poor grain or lack of quality hay. Sometimes people will also over grain to compensate for no hay. This is just as bad. You are doing all the right things because the general treatment for this is lightly exercise every day, cold water cool downs and leg wraps. Again, be careful with them. Never on for more than 12 hours. If the horse is low in iron then he could have edema and this will add to the problem as well. This takes a long time to fix. And you never mentioned if he was lame, so I will not consider that a factor. Most important, he has some pain or discomfort or he would not lay down as much. He could have "wind puffs" and that is a collection of fluid in the synovial pouches around the flexor tendons. Again, since I am not there, you are my eyes. I can bet it is both and probably would be right on. The splints are a must, the boots are critical and the cold water and wraps are a must. Working him too hard will be self defeating or carrying a lot of weight with a stock saddle and some one not on point with weight. That is just too much. The key word here is set a routine, keep to it and don't work him hard. He may get stiff sore and achy and he will not tell you. Up his supplements to increase with Vit C, E, B's, and Horse Chestnut herbs to strengthen the veins in his legs. Not all my animals are expensive, but they are all priceless, so I spare no expense. If you have any other questions, please ask.
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