Hi everyone! 

My horse had an incident on Sunday.  The (lightweight) saddle slipped under him, he spilled his rider (not me... I know how to tighten a cinch hahah) as he turned a corner, and he ran back to the barn with the saddle hanging under his belly. He did not trip or fall on his run back nor get a foot stuck. He had a few minor abrasions on his front legs from the saddle, but Tuesday morning I noticed this huge bulge on his side. It was aabout the size of half of a volleyball. I think it's related to his "event" but can't figure out what the heck happened!  The bulge has gravitated under his belly,and the fluid has spread out a bit,  so I'm taking it as a good sign there's no hernia (was my first thought).  He is not tender, touchy whatsoever in the entire area. The swelling is now hanging under his bellly and it's soft. Not hot either.  Here's a picture. What do you think caused this? His muscle tone is really good in that area. What can I do for this??  Thanks for looking and sharing any advice!!

Did you call your vet? I would say this is the time to do so.

The picture did not appear on my computer, just a question mark icon. But from what you said, the bulge could be fluid retention or a hematoma (blood pocket). Call your vet, ASAP. A vet needs to look at it, don't waste your time talking to a forum.

Sounds like a hematoma.  I would get the vet out.  I think in some cases they can drain the pocket, but in others you just have to wait for the body to absorb it.

Call the vet and don't let anyone that's going to make such a mistake ride your horse.

Picture is not showing up. Most def sounds like a hematoma. Caused by trauma of dumping the rider and having the saddle slide underneath. The blood is pooling under the belly because its gravity and its going to the lowest spot and settling.

From Merck Veterinary Manual:

A hematoma is a collection of blood, frequently clotted, beneath the skin or in a deep muscle mass (most frequently of the thigh). Hematomas are caused by trauma, most frequently from one animal butting another in confined quarters or from 2 animals attempting to rush through a narrow doorway at the same time.

In some locations, a hematoma can be confused with an abdominal hernia or a large abscess. Aspiration of fluid using a strict aseptic technique should precede any attempts to open a swelling. Hematomas should not be opened because the hemorrhaging vessel is almost impossible to locate and will continue to bleed until pressure within the hematoma equals that in the vessel. Bleeding from beneath a clot rarely stops spontaneously until either the blood pressure falls or the clot begins to organize. Eventually, this process occurs, and most of the clot will be resorbed. However, it is quite usual for an unsightly irregular lump to remain.

 

Call your vet and let them know whats going on.

Thanks for the input. Vet is coming tomorrow a.m.  It is looking better each time I see it.  Fluid is spreading out and not all in one spot now. It has definitely shrunk. Weird thing though is absolutely no soreness anywhere!  The saddle was not anywhere near that area.. the saddle was  toward the front. no sign of trauma at all. who knows?  Vet will check it out. Hope it's nothing.  He has had a hematoma from a kick about 2 years ago in the chest.  It dows take quite a while for the fluid to reabsorb.  Hope there are no lingering effects.

 i can't really see the lump.  but i just wanted to say...what a pretty horse.

The fluid pocket is not where the trauma occurred, it just oozed down to the lowest point via gravity. The trauma may have been up on the back where the girth hung. The weight of the saddle hanging from the girth could have injured something on the back, since the saddle weight is NOT meant to be carried by something as narrow as a girth

Thanks for all the replies. Funny story: The vet came out on Friday, and before he arrived, I was brushing my horse, trying to figure what the heck happened to cause the lump.  (No pain, soreness, marks, or anything on his back or side where the initial bulge was.The girth was toward the front of his body).  So then I remembered about 2 years ago he had a swollen area/welt on his neck that was the size of my hand. No shots were given... and I figured he was bitten by a spider or something stung him.That swellilng subsided rather quickly too... so anyway, while I was brushing I asked my friend, "I wonder if he got bit by something..." (It was so puzzling that there was no pain or abrasions, etc.)

Anyway, the vet arrives and says, "bug bite".  

I guess it was just a coincidence that it happened the day after the saddle incident. Lucky Beau he is. 

Now, we will see today if he is wiggy about having a saddle on! 

Have a good week everyone!

You were right about the bug bite!!