Swelling in this area is common in horses and is often a cause for concern. A swelling may be recent (acute) or longer term (chronic). Keep in mind that even if you have just noticed this problem, it may have been there for awhile.

Swelling here can be serious, given that vital anatomic structures are present just below the surface of the skin. The absence or presence and degree of lameness is the most important indicator of the severity of the condition. An abscess that is maturing may cause obvious swelling at the coronet and above. Hard swellings here could also indicate "ringbone" or "sidebone", among other conditions.