can't afford an MRI, WWTD?

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My mums 17yo horse was diagnosed with severe damage to his DDFT in his foot last year, but it was only what the vet thought on seeing him trot up (i.e. no MRI, exrays etc.). To be fair he was very lame at the time, he said just due to wear and tear. Vet said he would never get any better and kindest thing would be to PTS. My mum decided to let him have some time and he is now completely sound as a pound!! Flicking his toes and doing a HUGE trot up the road the other day, bucking and galloping round the field, still sound.

My mum is tempted to start working him again but he’s not insured and we can’t afford an MRI scan for him to know the truth. WWYD? He really wants to go hunting!!
 
Could you not just retire him and have him as a companion until you save some funds to give him a proper MOT? He's not that old so a year or two off is nit going to hurt.

Also what gives you the impression he wants to go hunting ?
 
I would bring him back into work gently - lots of roadwork in walk and slow trot to harden up his legs. He will love getting out each day. If he stands up to a couple of months of this, then why not a short day out hunting, on a day when the going isn't too deep.

After all, this is how we always got horses back into work before MRIs existed.
 
I would slowly bring him up to fitness and take him hunting again if it is what he enjoys I am all for a short happy life over a long miserable one. If he stays sound he will be happy if not he can either have more time off or be PTS kindly having lived his life to the full which ever is most appropriate for him
 
windand rain said:
I would slowly bring him up to fitness and take him hunting again if it is what he enjoys I am all for a short happy life over a long miserable one. If he stays sound he will be happy if not he can either have more time off or be PTS kindly having lived his life to the full which ever is most appropriate for him
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totally agree
 
my horse had similar issues, still has. because it was on and off lameness the vet said to retire him fully rather than the gentle hacks we were doing. he didn't accept the retirement at all and did age so after a while we gave in and on occassions would have a mooch around.
that was 18 months ago, now he is doing an hours hack once a week and a few shorter hacks on other days, he's happy. he doesn't have bute unless we feel he needs it and the vet is happy with his way of going.

at first it would take us longer to tack up than it would to ride but we built him up over time. just start off with a few minutes here and there, don't expect circles and stuff, i was advised not to do school work as it would put more strain on his leg so we just hack out.
 
just to add, my vet says that i could put him in a field for 6 months and probably still have to have him pts or i could ride him for 6 weeks and we both enjoy ourselves then pts........as said that was about 18 months ago.
 
I'd just work him again and see. If he goes the same unsoundness wise, then you have your answer and a decision to make.
 
NoCollection said:
I would bring him back into work gently - lots of roadwork in walk and slow trot to harden up his legs. He will love getting out each day. If he stands up to a couple of months of this, then why not a short day out hunting, on a day when the going isn't too deep.

After all, this is how we always got horses back into work before MRIs existed.
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^^^ this. Good luck, you might need superglue if he's happy about it! :D
 
I'd put him into work and see how he went. As another poster said that is what we did before MRI! Time can be a great healer. See how he goes and enjoy him for as long as you can. Good luck!
 
I would wait a year before taking him hunting. Just hack and school and see how he goes. If he's still sound next year, then go!
 
So from reading he's had 18 months off? In which case any healing will be completely done by now so very, very slowly bring him back into work (like 5 minutes to start with and add 5 minutes every 2 weeks or so until an hours walk then add very short trots etc) and see how he copes - I certainly wouldn't hunt until in full work and coping well and remember that the tendon is always going to be more vulnerable to damage so while he may be absolutly fine hacking or schooling hunting/cross country type work may prove too much for the tendon to cope with.

The old treatment for most injuries was to fire them and turn away for a year, not convinced the firing did anything but the time left to themselves in the field would usually fix anything that was fixable.
 
Honestly if I wanted peace of mind and had the cash before slowly bringing him back into work I'd speak to the vet about having an ultrasound scan, which can sometimes be done at your yard depending on a few things, would be a better diagnostic tool for soft tissue damage than an xray and so much cheaper than an MRI, and would at least let you know how things stand to a certain degree. Certainly if there was anything glaringly wrong with his ligaments it should tell you.

It may be, seeing as the vet didn't do tests when it happened, that it shows up something else such as, for example, Collateral ligament damage and you may then need to consider some form of special shoeing for him to come back into work but start with a scan and see where it takes you. Good luck with him :)
 
Wagtail said:
I would wait a year before taking him hunting. Just hack and school and see how he goes. If he's still sound next year, then go!
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This.

My horse did do his DDFT within his foot (as shown on MRI) and after he had completed his box rest his road to getting fit again was very long. We did a few months of ridden walking (he had been on the walker for the last few months of box rest) started trotting around the 3-4 month, were probably cantering round the 7-8 month mark and it was probably around the 12 months mark before I carefully started jumping again.
 
I just got back from the vets. My mare has a slight lesion on her DDFT and was supposed to go in for an MRI today. When we arrived the vet said he would do a more detailed ultrasound which gives nearly the same amount of detail as the MRI and is only approx. £120. atm she is sound so he's told me to gently bring her back into work and will reassess in 2 weeks :)
 
Thanks guys. It was last March when he went to the vets so it's been about 10 months.

He was off work completely for about 6 months (not box rest he was turned out) and has had steady hacks building up to about an hour, but we've kept him on firm surfaces. We had a little canter on some good ground/old turf today.. I guess we'll see how he is tomorrow.

I don't think we will jump him again but if we could build him up to just having a steady day next year that would be amazing.

What gives me the impression he wants to go hunting? Well apart from that he thinks it's the best thing ever, he goes nuts when Badger (my horse) is getting ready and plaited up, he weaves like a mad man and he never normally weaves! It's like he's trying to say "Me Me Me!!! Take me!!" Bless him. I'm so glad we gave him a chance.
 
Wagtail said:
I would wait a year before taking him hunting. Just hack and school and see how he goes. If he's still sound next year, then go!
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Took the words right out of my mouth. I would spend all summer hacking then bring in a bit of schooling, start low gentle jumping and see how it goes.

Most horses that hunt regularly adore it, but I don't think they would be unhappy as a happy hack if need be. My XC monster hasn't jumped or competed for 3 years (due to my injuries) yet is still a happy bunny.

Good luck, hope it works out.
 
Honey08 said:
Took the words right out of my mouth. I would spend all summer hacking then bring in a bit of schooling, start low gentle jumping and see how it goes.

Most horses that hunt regularly adore it, but I don't think they would be unhappy as a happy hack if need be. My XC monster hasn't jumped or competed for 3 years (due to my injuries) yet is still a happy bunny.

Good luck, hope it works out.
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Oh of course, we were not thinking of this year!

He'll be fine if he doesn't go again, but he does live for it, more than other horses. So I would like for him to be able to go again if he can. He's an "Up front" boy though so he will probably be a complete little **** taking it steady! :P
 
I would bring back to work slowly
I would have the vet trot up lunge on the hard etc before instarted so you they can benchmark how he was when he started work again if you hit issues down the line .
I would not send any money on expensive diagnosics but would pay for the best farrier that you can possibly find to look after his feet.
 
Ah I thought OP was going to give us an update on how Caffers was doing, but it seems new member Darren is just trying to advertise his company...
 
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