Advice Please

[laritchie9]

I sadly lost my horse nearly two weeks ago and have been offered a 14yr old ex point to point thoroughbred. He has slight thickening of tendon on front leg, I wanted to know what experience others have of tendon injury, whether with good management he could have a happy ridden life, I am more of a leisure rider but would like to do some dressage and maybe low level cross country. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Am conscious that I dont really want to take on a problem, and owner is friend who I trust and she is confident that he could come good and be right for what I am looking for.

Many thanks

 

[be positive]

At first glance I read that he had a thickened tendon which was recovered from injury but on reading properly it seems that it is recent and still recovering.
If that is the case I would be more cautious he is an older horse and it could take at least a year with careful treatment before he is able to work again and only then could you tell whether he will stand up to work.
If he has done some work since the injury could you have a trial period to see how it goes before committing to keeping what could be a horse that does not come fully sound.
There are plenty of horses out there be careful not to rush into anything on the rebound after the loss of your horse.

 

[kirstyl]

I have an ex racer with a thickened tendon on the off fore. This is an old injury however and I know that he raced sound afterwards and three years on, it has never been an issue. Are you able to speak to the vet who is treating the horse to ask their advice?

 

[laritchie9]

Hi thank you for such quick replies, he got the injury in April, while being ridden not raced, he has been turned away since. You are right about the rebound, and there is no pressure on me from the owner, just feel a bit lost........ Thanks again

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

You say you been offered this horse ?? you need to think / ask a few questions first


Does she want money for it (how much). This could reflect the answer to your question.

Depending how much she wants would be my first ask to her, as if she wants silly money for a horse with a tendon then I would say stay clear.

1. What was the cause of this tendon injury?
2. How severe was the damage
3. You need to speak to the vet who dealt with it to get an unbiased answer
4. what treatment was given
5. has the "vet" given it the all clear to work again.
6. What was the regime of exercise that it underwent to bring back into work?
7. did it have slow and steady is what you want to here minute by minute increase work in hand walk only
8. Whats the vets opinion to what the horse will be capable of doing?
9. Is there any more treatment to be done/ can be done to help any remaining healing.
10. Would turnout over the summer help it the bring slowly back into work help it

Those answers to you satisfactory

There are future things you can do to strengthen the leg:

1. Walking on hills
2. swimming if you have equine pool nearby
3. salt water
4. spa
5. muscle liniment
6. wear supporting tendon boots for future protection, tho i would exercise quietly without or the tendon relies on boots and wont get as strong.