Bad Check ligament injury experiences

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Irishdraughtx

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Hi, was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with a bad check ligament injury. My horse did his right front check in August and is still lame. We are due back at the vets in three weeks time for another ultrasound scan after completing his inhand walking program but I feel like we have gone backwards instead of forwards :( he did a very good job of it and didn't make much improvement for the first few months until we went back around three weeks ago where he walked sound but was still 2/5 lame in trot. He originally appeared lame on his left hind as well but after his initial six weeks of box rest that had disappeared; however last week he started appearing lame behind again. Feel completely deflated with him now with fears of him never being sound (have given up all hope of riding him as I couldn't put him through this again but it's a shame as he is only 5)

Sort of lost track and started rambling with my post there but really I was just looking for any experiences where the horse had, had quite a bad injury and what the outcome was, as I see more posts about horses who have just sprained their check ligament.
 
Just bumping, the ligament has shortened causing his pastern angle to become very upright, he is now on restricted turnout with the walking time being increased by five minutes each week however I have not seen enough improvement since we started this and the ligament is not stretching out. My vet has said the only option if it didn't stretch with the walking would be surgery but have no idea of the prognosis of this.
 
Irishdraughtx said:
Thank you, it's just very frustrating as I haven't had him very long and he's been lame for most of it, no end in sight at the moment!
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Sorry to hear this... I kind of understand. I bought my new boy last April and luckily had the most amazing 5 months with him before in September him being diagnosed with a suspensory injury. Luckily for me, after another 6 months he's now back in work and (touching everything wood) doing really well!

Fingers crossed for your boy.
 
I had a check ligament issue with my mare shortly after I bought her. She was out of action for a year. Turns out it was her second incident of it after being given the all clear.

She had stretched it pretty badly and was on box rest for 6 weeks, rescanned - 2 more weeks box rest then lots of cold hosing, walking in hand, cold hosing, rest, walking in hand, cold hosing etc. 6 months in and she still wasn't right. I remember Christmas day one year cold hosing and walking in hand, and cold hosing.

Bought some cold water boots for her too to try help.

Anyway about a month later she was scanned and came back ok, and started the ridden walking work. 15 minutes of walk a day under saddle no more no less.

It was tough going... and I took it super handy with her under the vets orders, nothing strenuous for another 6 months. so in hand and under saddle walking for a month, then 5 minutes trotting extra for 2 weeks, then 10 the next 2 weeks etc etc. no cantering.

We got the all clear roughly about a year after she had done it and she is right as rain now. I was warned at the time that if it went again, its curtains and she can't be ridden. So I baby the life out of her and she enjoys it.

Suits me though as I am only a low level rider and we do dressage together. She is a very experienced high level SJ mare with a lot of points, so I assume she is bored silly with me.
We do jump the odd time just for variety but only small things like Xpoles. nothing bigger than 80cm. We hack out regularly too, and compete in Riding Club dressage.

Still she is fit and healthy and still going strong nearly three years later. I get slagged for babying her so much but I'd rather keep her healthy than risk having to go through that again and end up with a field ornament.

I've since spoken to vets who have said that if she does do it again surgery might help, they cut the check ligament itself as it doesn't have much of a use apparently. Its worked well on any of the horses that this particular vet has completed it on.

I've not done enough research myself on it as she seems to be going ok, and I will cross that bridge if I come to it.
 
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ElectricChampagne said:
I had a check ligament issue with my mare shortly after I bought her. She was out of action for a year. Turns out it was her second incident of it after being given the all clear.

She had stretched it pretty badly and was on box rest for 6 weeks, rescanned - 2 more weeks box rest then lots of cold hosing, walking in hand, cold hosing, rest, walking in hand, cold hosing etc. 6 months in and she still wasn't right. I remember Christmas day one year cold hosing and walking in hand, and cold hosing.

Bought some cold water boots for her too to try help.

Anyway about a month later she was scanned and came back ok, and started the ridden walking work. 15 minutes of walk a day under saddle no more no less.

It was tough going... and I took it super handy with her under the vets orders, nothing strenuous for another 6 months. so in hand and under saddle walking for a month, then 5 minutes trotting extra for 2 weeks, then 10 the next 2 weeks etc etc. no cantering.

We got the all clear roughly about a year after she had done it and she is right as rain now. I was warned at the time that if it went again, its curtains and she can't be ridden. So I baby the life out of her and she enjoys it.

Suits me though as I am only a low level rider and we do dressage together. She is a very experienced high level SJ mare with a lot of points, so I assume she is bored silly with me.
We do jump the odd time just for variety but only small things like Xpoles. nothing bigger than 80cm. We hack out regularly too, and compete in Riding Club dressage.

Still she is fit and healthy and still going strong nearly three years later. I get slagged for babying her so much but I'd rather keep her healthy than risk having to go through that again and end up with a field ornament.

I've since spoken to vets who have said that if she does do it again surgery might help, they cut the check ligament itself as it doesn't have much of a use apparently. Its worked well on any of the horses that this particular vet has completed it on.

I've not done enough research myself on it as she seems to be going ok, and I will cross that bridge if I come to it.
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Thank you for your reply! I'm glad to hear your mare came back from it. The surgery the vet intends to do is to cut the check ligament but she explained it's quite a rare surgery and couldn't really give me a prognosis. I haven't managed to find many experiences of this surgery done in adult horses so it's reassuring to hear some positive views.
 
MissGee said:
Sorry to hear this... I kind of understand. I bought my new boy last April and luckily had the most amazing 5 months with him before in September him being diagnosed with a suspensory injury. Luckily for me, after another 6 months he's now back in work and (touching everything wood) doing really well!

Fingers crossed for your boy.
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I'm glad to hear he's back in action :)
 
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