My mare started stocking up overnight for no apparent reason. I’ve been using liniment and bandages at night, but there’s still swelling in the morning. Should I continue to wrap her’
Horse Journal Response: Stocking up may occur in some horses that don’t move around much in their stall, but no one fully understands why. It does seem to occur more frequently as the horse ages. For the most part, though, it’s nothing to worry about.
Wrapping won’t hurt the horse, and it might minimize the swelling, but it won’t stop everyday stocking up. Honestly, we wouldn’t even bother. If your mare is experiencing everday stocking up, it should resolve within a short time after turnout or hand-walking.
However, if she’s stocking up unevenly, such as only one leg or if one leg is more swollen than the other, an injury of some type should be suspected. Horses with early tendon/ligament strains may show filling when they’re stalled, and it may be a signal to get the veterinarian out for a diagnosis before it evolves into something much worse.
