anyone experienced a ddft tear and is now back in full competition work?

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exracer superstar

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My mare tore her ddft two weeks ago and thankfully the outcome from visiting the vets today was better than we first thought. Obviously we will be off for the summer competition wise hopefully we will be startinf work though. I compete showing and dressage with her, I am more concerned about what sort of potential I will have with her as a dressage horse now, my vet is reluctant to offer any information as two weeks ago we had a poor prognosis with surgery looking to be the only option and 30% chance of ever coming sound. By some miracle when he trotted her up and scannedt today she was about 1/5 lame not even that really as opposed to 4/5 and her scan showed a hole at least half the size of the last scan to which we were all gobsmacked. We are now going for a leave it be trial and intervene only when neccessary.

Just wanting anyones experiences as I have never dealt with any tendon injury in my 15 years of horses. I am hoping next year to compete at least novice dressage but I am unsure if this is unrealistic and the likinesss of reinjury. Feel free to private message if preferred.
 
My mare had a 50% or so leasion in her ddft of her hind leg about 18 months ago. She was never badly lame, just a little - the vet was suprised at the extent of the tear to her tendon compared to the lameness, he didn't expect to see anything on the scan - I'm just glad I insisted on scanning her
She's 10 months pregnant now so out of work however before she got too big I had been bringing her back into work for 4-5 months following about a year off work with very gradual build up of walking out etc. We haven't really done much in the way of schooling but had been doing lots of hacking including canter work (and a bit of gallop when she got left behind, not my choice ) She coped with it all absolutly fine, no heat, lameness or tenderness at all.
I will always be careful with her and the sort of ground we do any sort of fast work in - I hate boggy ground and will be careful about whether she jumps (I don't so not a huge issue) but see no reason why, with care, she can't do everything she did before
 
I don't jump her a lot now she used to event but loves her dressage the only time we jump is in working hunter so not so worried about that. She was very lame to begin with however she's almost right now I am keen to give her as long as possible coming back into work to prevent reinjury although ur post makes me feel confident that u had been hcking and doing that type of work fingers crossed then :)
 
exracer superstar said:
My mare tore her ddft two weeks ago and thankfully the outcome from visiting the vets today was better than we first thought. Obviously we will be off for the summer competition wise hopefully we will be startinf work though. I compete showing and dressage with her, I am more concerned about what sort of potential I will have with her as a dressage horse now, my vet is reluctant to offer any information as two weeks ago we had a poor prognosis with surgery looking to be the only option and 30% chance of ever coming sound. By some miracle when he trotted her up and scannedt today she was about 1/5 lame not even that really as opposed to 4/5 and her scan showed a hole at least half the size of the last scan to which we were all gobsmacked. We are now going for a leave it be trial and intervene only when neccessary.

Just wanting anyones experiences as I have never dealt with any tendon injury in my 15 years of horses. I am hoping next year to compete at least novice dressage but I am unsure if this is unrealistic and the likinesss of reinjury. Feel free to private message if preferred.
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A friends horse tore its annular ligament and it adhesions were removed from it, and around it - I think it may have been resected but I am not sure. It also tore its DDFT. It is now back jumping in full work, although not competing, but think that is owners choice more than anything. It was 8 months from injury to present.
 
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Wow there should be hope for us then, I had a read up and felt abit worried so I thought I'd ask for real people's experiences and so far so good :) thanks
 
We have rehabbed lots of ddft and sdft injuries some really bad some just small tears - most mend well given time. Lots of ice treatment we use ice vibe and game ready treatment and As soon as any heat and swelling has settled and horse is pretty sound and comfortable start walking in hand build up exercise gradually. Every horse we have done has gone back to racing and winning or competing up to top level bar one but that was a v bad candidate for box rest and repair! Also cannot recommend enough arcequine if you go on their website or speak to them re the injury it will reduce the time and aid good repair. Pm me if you want more info
 
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