Bringing a horse back after ligament injury?

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SahnyaS

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I'm a junior event rider and last year my horse overstretched his Impar ligament- a small ligament in the middle of the hoof, close to the deep digital flexor tendon.
This happened in June last year (2010). He has now had 9-10 months off. I hope to start bringing him back into work again mid April. Because of where the injury was he has had no treatment as such, just time off. He is sound at the moment and is in the walker every day.
This is him
http://www.irisheventhorse.com/rowanhill-master-clover.html
He is an amazing horse.....competed up to junior * and won nearly every event he entered.
Could anyone with experience tell me what kind of training plan i should have to bring him back into work?
If he is fit, sound, and the ground isnt too hard then i hope to take him out to a few events late in the season at pre-novice, just to ease him back in slowly.
All advice valued.
Thanks
Sahnya
 
Have you spoke to your vet about it? He/should be able to give you a detailed plan of how to bring him back into work, but basically it’s just a case of brining them back very slowly with loads of walking building up in distance and then starting with little trots, building those up and so on until he’s back in full work. I’m not sure on your lads specific injury though but I’m sure your vet would be helpful.


He looks lovely BTW – just my type.
 
Thanks, i would get our vets help but he is a brilliant vet bet..... a little strange. He would probably tell me to leave him off for another two years! Its just a little hard to get straight, serious answers out of him!
 
Oh right I see, he sounds like a pain! Have you tried posting this in the vet part of the forum, should get some help in there. Is he turned out at the mo and how long is he going on the walker for?
 
My Boy damaged his Impar ligament last year also, his has adhering to the DDFT though :(

I was given a plan from Leahurst, it consisted of 6 weeks box rest & then walk out in hand for 5 mins a day & build by 5 mins every week then walk work for a further 3 months in straight lines under saddle.

We only got to week one of hand walking out & he went horribly lame again. So then Leahurst changed to 5 months total box rest, he was on box rest from August 10 to Jan 11. From Jan he was turned out in a small pen he's still penned in the field of a day the box rest made him quite ill.

We have now built him up to the point where he's doing 45 mins walk work, straight lines only. He's just started hacking:D Since Jan he's gone lame 3 times in total & it was slight compared to the hopping lame he used to go.

I took him Barefoot in September & it has made a lot of difference, i hack him in Easyboot Bare's & T/O in them also as im on clay & it's like concrete & he needs the support of pads on hard ground due to the injury.

Im really only at the start as the vets at Leahurst have given me a poor prognosis as to his long term recovery so time will tell. I take every day as it comes & hopefully one day we will be back in the dressage arena as he's not a horse who we can retire.
 
SahnyaS said:
He is turned out most days for 3-4 hours and is in the walker for about an hour.
Click to expand...

If I were you I'd start taking him on some short roadwork hacks in walk and build up steadily from there and see how you go, especially if he behaves and is not likely to do anything stupid!

Sounds like you've been having a hard time with yours dressagecrazy - hope he comes right.
 
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