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At 06:54:46 on 16.12.09, Jess128 wrote: Hi there, My mare injured her hind suspensory last June. It wasn't diagnosed until July (moderate injury with disruption to cannon bone), and she had 8 weeks stall rest, then 4 weeks of stall rest with handwalking, then I was able to start riding her. Her leg has been ultrasounded and looks great. I'm guilty of not sticking to just one vet, and so I've gotten very different opinions on how to bring her back to work. I'm in no rush and would rather take my time than risk re-injury. So far I've walked her beginning at 10 mins and increasing by 5 mins every 2 weeks. Once at 25 mins of walking, we began trotting (this is just a week ago that we began trotting.) We trot 6 long sides each direction, no corners. My mare is sound and eager to move. How much should I increase the amount we trot and how often? How so I know when it's ok to do corners and circles at the trot? Any idea when we can start cantering? Thanks!
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At 21:25:14 on 22.12.09, HorseVet wrote: I approach things from a different angle - see my website on proximal suspensory desmitis. Why did the hind suspensory go in the first place? Unless that is addressed there is a risk of it repeating. If it does do not give in to pressure to operate and cut the nerve so it can't be felt. Your horse will tell you how much work is possible - just keep increasing it slowly and keep a close eye. Best wishes HorseVet http://www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk
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At 20:33:22 on 28.12.09, farasi wrote: My horse did the full central core in his front tendon, about 8 years ago, prognosis was well "vet opinion of not good" Full recovery, full work, hunted, XC, and still working well and sound, never had a problem since with the leg. The key is your ground work, and if you stop for any period of time, go back to the ground work. Horses must be conditioned and strenghtened properly for the work they do. I played safe with my boy I did 3 months road work, lots and lots of walking to begin with, and built it up to trot, and used to go out for good few hours, not bimbling, but walking out and a nice rymthmical balanced trot. I did that before I even entertained a school or circles, I then built him up gradually on the fields and track in all three paces, the secret is to make sure the horse is conditioned and fitter than he needs to be for the job in hand (and I still work him to those principles). Tired tendons and ligaments that are not condtioned properly are more likely to go pop than those that are well prepared for the job in hand. The amount of scar tissue you have will also effect the elasticity of the ligament so you need to really condition that well, to look at my horses leg you would never know that he had a full core from knee to fetlock go, he has one tiny bit of scar tissue about the size of a little finger nail where the last little bit healed, but I did not follow advice with his box rest as I knew the horse and I have a best friend who advised me as a friend not the qualified vet she is of another method to try which followed the recuperation of a racing greyhound from a tendon injury, I know my horse and I know enough to be able to assess the situation, and I also had nothing to loose by trying it as his tendon was as knackered as you could get, other than the sheath going, which was intact. I know tendons are not quite ligaments and never having had a ligament injury, I do not have first hand experience, but I would treat it no different from a tendon working within the boundarys my horse tells me. I think they just take longer. Your work must be consistant and regular though. The sore backside is well worth the long term reward for fixing it properly. do not wrap your horse in cotton wool, they are tougher than you think, and they will rely on bandages for support. Vets are brilliant and I am the first to seek advice from them, but they tend to play safe as they can be held liable. You know your horse, and take the advice that you feel is most suited to you and your horse from the vets. My vets love me, as sometimes they see unexpected results from my different approach, eg the old horses tendon and the young horses feet. I knew why my horse got his tendon injury, and I knew how (he was racing), but I do hear of so many horses damaging a suspensory ligament, and find it difficult to work out how they get it when not working at top level. I would also steer clear of operating, and I do like the different approach horse vet has recommended, and I'd certainly be seeking his advice if I had a problem again.
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At 18:00:51 on 05.01.10, HorseVet wrote: Thank you for your endorsement Farasi! Unfortunately it is getting more common for people to be pushed down the surgery route for hind suspensory lameness and even for mild lameness. The body is an amazing self-healing unit and just because vets can intervene surgically doesn't mean we should - you'd be surprised how many injuries get better without intervention. Expensive doesn't always mean better. The scenar device I use for tendons speeds up the natural healing process and is totally non-invasive. Over the past 12 years I can almost now guarantee treating a tendon to going back in work at 2-3 months even for very seriously injured tendons. I am about to post a research question regarding tendon injury veterinary costs and I would welcome all feedback to help me decide what to do. Thanks in advance! Best wishes HorseVet http://www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk
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At 04:38:30 on 06.01.10, Jess128 wrote: My mare pulled her suspensory in the pasture. I rode her one day as usual and the next day she was lame. A recent massage showed a lot of tightness in the muscles on the right side of her neck and shoulder, so we think she must have been playing in the pasture and fallen somehow. We trotted only long sides and increased the amount every few days, for 4 weeks. My horse feels really good and got into a habit of bolting and then bucking when I tried to bring her back to me, so we're now trotting all the way around the arena for 10 or 15 mins each way. I'm going to work her fairly hard and consistantly this week, and if she stays sound then we will canter next week. One thing I have noticed though, is that going to the left when I am sitting on her back at the time when her right hind (the injured one) in extended behind, she is a bit sore. Not noticeably sore, but she is much more willing to move forward when I post on the incorrect diagnal to the left. I still need to push her forward more going to the left than going to the right though, even when I do post on the incorrect diagnol, which she much prefers. I'm thinking this is just a strength issue and will resolve itself as the tendon strengthens. I have also noticed that she rests her right hind leg quite often. Could she still have pain in it? Or is this just a habit? It is not swollen, there is no heat, and she is sound apart from being uncomfortable trotting to the left when I post on the correct diagnal and therefore am sitting on her back when the right hind is extended back.
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At 17:34:43 on 06.01.10, HorseVet wrote: It may resolve as the tendon strengthens but if there is an underlying problem elsewhere that has caused the injury in the first place then the injury may recur. There is often more to these situations than you first suspect in my experience. Best wishes HorseVet http://www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk
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At 12:10:47 on 15.01.10, pollydoodle wrote: Hi I had a mare with a damaged branch susp.lig. - she was 1 tenth lame for a long time after treatment - she had rest rest and more rest, gentle exercise, rest, more exercise, shockwave treatment, etc... that was over a year ago. I believe it just takes time and patience. I have a brill vet - as you all are, no doubt. I believe it is best to take their advice, do what is necessary to keep horsie well and comfy. I sold my mare recently as I dare not use her for jumping and long hard rides. She has gone to someone ( a friend) who is happy to do a bit of hacking. I am pleased with that... she is happy.
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At 12:01:46 on 08.02.10, hessy wrote: my appaloosa has 'done' his off fore suspensory ligament. it went nearly 2 years ago, he had it scanned and injected with cortisone (sp) and then had Danilon then bute and lots of rest. He has never been lame apart from if the vet does the flexion test. His leg has healed to some extent but the fetlock is permanently enlarged and often hot. I've been told to avoid very soft ground. He is a hunter and loves to be worked but the heat does worry me. My vet is of the opinion that the horse should continue to work so we do lots of walking but also trotting on roads but not downhill. I am not sure what the long term prognosis is. My vet says that when the ligament 'goes' i will know about it - the horse will be dead lame and have to be put to sleep. So all in all i am confused and playing it safe, not hunting and trying to be gentle. When you see your horse gallavanting round the field and he is wanting to go when you ride him, it breaks your heart. Good luck to all with this injury.
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At 22:24:45 on 16.02.10, HorseVet wrote: Hi Ongoing heat in the fetlock suggests there is ongoing inflammation. My advice would be to get the joint x-rayed and see what's going on. I wouldn't be exercising until I know the cause. You haven't said if your horse is sound or not. best wishes HorseVet http://www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk
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