Broken leg - when to ride again?

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Hanz

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My mare broke her leg back in Sept and has been on box rest. My vet rang me and told me how to test her leg to see if she was OK to turn out again. She had her first day out in the field yesterday, although for a couple of weeks prior to that she has been allowed in a little injury paddock while I muck out.

When do you think it would be acceptable to start bringing her back into work? The plan is to do it intensively over about 2 months as she will be going back up for sale, obviously I will do some ground schooling with her before jumping on board again. The vet said it would be unnecesary to get him out again but do you think I should ask him to give her a check over to give me the all clear?
 
Hi. I feel your vet should really come back out to re X-ray the leg to see how it has healed. If you ride before it has healed you could do more damage.

One of my geldings fractured his splint bone several years ago. He needed six months box rest, three months in a small yard before being turned out into a field for several months. The vet X-rayed him three times all up - the first to diagnose, the second to check healing (and the leg hadn't healed properly at that stage), and the third to give the OK to bring him slowly back into work.

It would be terrible to bring her back into work before the leg has healed properly.

Good luck with your horse.
 
She was never x-rayed as the vet thought it would be a waste of time, as it would only show what he said it was - a hairline fracture. I will definately get him out to check it over and give me the all clear after she has been turned out for a couple of weeks. Thanks.
 
What bone did your horse break? Your vet really needs to advise you on this and should x-ray the horses leg to check. 3 months isn't that long for bone healing and so you really need to know how it's progressing to make decisions.

How did your vet diagnose a fracture in the first place without an X ray?
 
He said they could x-ray it but it would be a waste of time as it would only show that it was broken, he said cannon from where the puncture wound was, Its more 4 months really as was end of Aug-Beginning of Sept when she did it.
 

I would not be happy if my vet said that it did not need x raying! I would also have been very alarmed that he did not xray to diagnose.

In regard to brining back to work, I would do this very slowly and carefully, that bone will take months longer to become strong again. I would start (when the vet gives the all clear) with walking about 15 / 20 mins for a good few weeks increasing the time and frequency when you think is right.

I am not sure you can do this intensively, and 2 months is unrealistic to get her up to "selling fit".
Sorry for being blunt, i do not mean to!!
I worked at a equine surgery for a while, and have seen quite a few broken legs.
 
I'm surprised your vet didn't x-ray to confirm diagnosis.

I would have thought all vets (and doctors) would use modern technology to confirm 'a hunch' in their diagnosis

I have a friend who is a radiologist yet she relies on modern technology - she doesn't have x-ray vision.

How did the vet suggest you test the leg to see if she was OK to turn out? Even with being OK to turn out, the bone may not have healed sufficiently enough to ride yet.

I would get the vet to x-ray to see if the bone has healed sufficiently. Then at least can start making some plans for bringing her back into work. And know you can do so safely.

Good luck.
 
I had to feel the leg for any heat, then pick it up and pinch the area as hard as I could. If she didn't so much as flinch then she was OK to go out. He also said it would be unnecesary for him to be called out again, that's why I am asking your advice.
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Personally... i would see another vet!

She really needs a x-ray before you start any work with her to assess wheather her leg has healed.
 
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