Libby blew a splint

"Blew a splint" sounds both strange and scary, doesn't it? The black arrow is pointing at the bump on Libby's leg that is, in fact, a blown splint. Libby is my two-year-old filly.

Cliff first noticed the bump, two or three months ago. She didn't seem to have any pain in the area, and it wasn't hot to the touch. When I took this picture and posted it on Homesteading Today's Equine board, almost everyone there agreed that Libby probably blew a splint.

I'd never heard of such a thing; so I googled it and found this description: "Splints are bony deposits that appear on the upper inside border of the front cannon. They seldom cause lameness, but occasionally a "high" splint may interfere with the action of the knee and cause unsoundness. Young horses stressed by play or training may "blow" a splint. If lameness persists more than a few days, a veterinarian should treat splints."

Libby never showed signs of lameness or limping. When the vet came to vaccinate and float teeth, I asked him about it; he confirmed that it was, indeed, a blown splint.

"Will that hurt her for riding purposes?" I asked.

"No, probably not."

"Will that bump go away?"

"If it's been there over a month, I imagine not."

I hate that this happened to her, but since it isn't hurting her and won't keep her from being ridden when the time comes, I'm not going to worry about it. I'm sure if I end up selling her, it will affect the price anyone would be willing to pay. But then, I only paid $150 for her; I've had that much enjoyment out of her already, just being around her.