Caramac71
Well-Known Member
Pony was found to be mildly lame at beginning of March, only in trot, and only really noticeable on turns. After 2 days, a small fluid-y swelling came up on the near foreleg, just above the fetlock. She is turned out for about 7-8 hours per day and is generally sensible in the field, so we continued with her usual turnout, took her for walks in the evenings, cold hosed 15 mins a day.
Gave her a week off, swelling had gone completely and she trotted up sound. Took her for a short hack (walk only) and next day she was still sound and no swelling.
The following day, my daughter rode in the school. On the left rein she looked fine, but on the right rein she didn't look comfortable. Daughter said she felt strong on that rein, and she was resisting bending.
Next day, slight swelling reappeared. Trotted her up the following day when swelling had reduced to almost nothing, and she still wasn't quite right.
Phoned the vet who thought it sounded like a mild strain and said these things are extremely difficult to diagnose - therefore his initial suggestion would be another week of rest, then gradually bring her back into work and see how she does. He said she can continue with her usual turnout as long as she is sensible. If she starts galloping around the field, then she'll need box rest. Meanwhile, if she looks lame in walk, or if the swelling increases, then I am to phone and they will come out to look at her.
That was last Thursday - we have decided to give her til the weekend before trotting up again. Last weekend the swelling had all but gone (occasionally we can feel fluid in both front legs and she has windgalls in her hindlegs, not sure if this is significant?). Monday the swelling seemed worse again, but she has just come into season so could well have been prancing about and being a bit silly in the field. Yesterday it had gone back down again.
This is all completely new to me, I have no experience of lameness at all, so could be worrying for no reason. But I would have preferred her to have a week without any apparent swelling before bringing her back into work, as surely if there is still swelling, there is still an injury?
We are going on holiday in a couple of weeks. Part of me is wondering if we are best to rest her til we get back (ie give her another month off) assuming it gets no worse. And part of me is wondering if it's still the same at the weekend, whether to get the vet out next week so that we at least might then know what we are dealing with.
It feels like this has been going on for ages, when it's only been 2.5 weeks! But can anyone advise how long we should expect it to take to heal, and if there is anything different we could be doing to help?
Gave her a week off, swelling had gone completely and she trotted up sound. Took her for a short hack (walk only) and next day she was still sound and no swelling.
The following day, my daughter rode in the school. On the left rein she looked fine, but on the right rein she didn't look comfortable. Daughter said she felt strong on that rein, and she was resisting bending.
Next day, slight swelling reappeared. Trotted her up the following day when swelling had reduced to almost nothing, and she still wasn't quite right.
Phoned the vet who thought it sounded like a mild strain and said these things are extremely difficult to diagnose - therefore his initial suggestion would be another week of rest, then gradually bring her back into work and see how she does. He said she can continue with her usual turnout as long as she is sensible. If she starts galloping around the field, then she'll need box rest. Meanwhile, if she looks lame in walk, or if the swelling increases, then I am to phone and they will come out to look at her.
That was last Thursday - we have decided to give her til the weekend before trotting up again. Last weekend the swelling had all but gone (occasionally we can feel fluid in both front legs and she has windgalls in her hindlegs, not sure if this is significant?). Monday the swelling seemed worse again, but she has just come into season so could well have been prancing about and being a bit silly in the field. Yesterday it had gone back down again.
This is all completely new to me, I have no experience of lameness at all, so could be worrying for no reason. But I would have preferred her to have a week without any apparent swelling before bringing her back into work, as surely if there is still swelling, there is still an injury?
We are going on holiday in a couple of weeks. Part of me is wondering if we are best to rest her til we get back (ie give her another month off) assuming it gets no worse. And part of me is wondering if it's still the same at the weekend, whether to get the vet out next week so that we at least might then know what we are dealing with.
It feels like this has been going on for ages, when it's only been 2.5 weeks! But can anyone advise how long we should expect it to take to heal, and if there is anything different we could be doing to help?
