5 leg injuries in 2 years. Would you give up?

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AppaloosaLover

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Hi everyone,

I am having to make a really difficult decision and would like to know what people think. My gorgeous boy and my first horse Tonto a 10 year old Appaloosa who I bought two years ago is constantly having leg issues. He has had problems with his coffin joints, fetlocks, suspensories, superficials and now tendinitis.

I have done all sorts of treatment with him from rehabilitation yards,hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, shockwave and an operation.

At the weekend we were out showing and everything was fine we were just warming up, then the next minute he was dog lame and could barely walk.

Now tendinitus is quite easily fixed through box rest, controlled exercise and a series of injections. But I just don't know if it is worth putting him through that all again and riding him risking another injury which could potentially be much worse and I won't be able to afford to fix another leg injury.

So after spending so much money time and work trying with this horse should I give up? He always has a home with me as a pet btw.

I would love to hear peoples opnions, I do not want to be full of regret but I feel like it might be time to call it a day.

Thanks
 
My horse had 3 leg injuries in 3 years, different legs PSD, tenosynovitis and tendonitis. After I rehabbed after the last one I took his shoes off as there's some evidence that this helps horses with repeated injuries, there's lots of posts on here about it.

So far he's been sound, although currently he's on/off footy on one leg which I can't figure out. The farrier is having a look tomorrow so hopefully I will get an answer and it's something foot related. You don't lose anything by trying really. Can you post pics of his legs feet so that people can tell you what they think.
 
Is your horse an appy? I have read they are known as one of the breeds that can get DSLD, and multiple leg lameness is a symptom of that.
 
I'm so sorry to read this. I would call Rockley Farm and discuss with them. Not necessarily to send your boy there, but for some guidance as if he is currently shod, I would try removing shoes and rehabbing him barefoot before spending so much more money.

Don't beat yourself up for thinking about giving up as you have his interests at heart and that's the most important thing. Xxx
 
cptrayes said:
Is your horse an appy? I have read they are known as one of the breeds that can get DSLD, and multiple leg lameness is a symptom of that.
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Yes he is an appy, do you know if you can test for DSLD? I did get him five stage vetted so not sure if it would have been checked then, thanks
 
AppaloosaLover said:
.

So after spending so much money time and work trying with this horse should I give up? He always has a home with me as a pet btw.

I would love to hear peoples opnions, I do not want to be full of regret but I feel like it might be time to call it a day.

Thanks
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Sometimes you can get too close to a problem and it then seems totally insurmountable; and yet there is often a better way.

Put the horse in a position to fix himself.

You say that he will always have a home with you as a pet; that sounds like you have space to turn him out.

Remove his shoes, trim his feet and/or exercise him on hard abrasive surfaces so that he will trim himself. Very low sugar, high fiber diet with mineral supplement.

Watch how he moves. Make sure his toes are short and see if he is landing on his heels. Just give him time and he will probably sort himself out.
 
I am wondering if shoes off and turning him away would be a good option, I just don't think I can put him through more box rest, he has had a lifetimes worth in two years and as its summer he would be pretty much by himself 24/7 which is just awful, thanks for your replies
 
AppaloosaLover said:
Yes he is an appy, do you know if you can test for DSLD? I did get him five stage vetted so not sure if it would have been checked then, thanks
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Yes, Leahurst will do a nuchal ligament biopsy, but I'm not sure how often it will give a false negative, if at all. You can also scan the tendons for multiple little lesions and for calcium (I think) deposits, but that would not give a definitive diagnosis.

Does he seem to you unusually tired after hard exercise? Does he lean on walls or sit down? Have a problem healing minor wounds? Have his hind legs straightened, or his fetlocks either sink or home more upright? How hard do his suspensories feel compared to other horses? These are all potential symptoms.
 
In the position you are with the ability to give him a home for life, I would turn him away for a year, Dr Green....the old fashioned way, perhaps when he has had tests for the above mentioned condition?
 
unicornystar said:
In the position you are with the ability to give him a home for life, I would turn him away for a year, Dr Green....the old fashioned way, perhaps when he has had tests for the above mentioned condition?
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I talked about it on the phone to my vet and he did not seem familiar with the condition which seemed strange but he said he would do some research.

Yes I think turning him away is the best option but I am so pleased that I came on here and can see that other people think it is the right choice for him!
 
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