check ligament injury

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becky1489

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20 October 2009
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My thoroughbred mare has typically low heels and tore her check ligament (very small tear - my vet nearly missed it!) in may when eventing (only intro/PN). My vet is very pleased with her recovery and I am now walking her up the road. She isnt a 'happy hack' type of horse and I would like to return to eventing one day.

I was wondering if anyone had experienced check ligament injuries? Is returning to competition possible?
 
I am currently riding a horse who had this injury back in early April. He had 3 months box rest and was brought back into work slowly with plenty of hacking out. He doesnt event but does like jumping, vet said he would be ok to jump on a surface but he got the injury doing XC, owner not willing to risk further injury so has taken decision not to do that again. Horse is sound and working well on flat, I know it doesnt really answer your question about eventing but this one can do everything else according to vet, hes 18 by the way.
 
thanks for the replies
smile.gif
I feel more hopeful now! there is hope for us yet! xx
 
My boy had this injury, badly, two years ago. It was a long 18 month haul but completely worth it as we have competed all summer in every discipline with no swelling or heat in that leg.
I followed my vets advice to the letter. Box rest 2 weeks, cold hose and bandaging. Then box rest with 5 mins walking up and down the yard twice a day for a week. Each week we added to the walking time until we were at 20 mins twice a day after about 12 weeks. I adjusted the walk time according to how the injury reacted each day and cold hosed and bandaged.
My vet did not recommend a horse walker for this as walking on a circle puts strain on the ligament so we walked in straight lines up and down the yard. It was hard work but completely worth it. This will not shorten the healing time but will make the repair stronger for the competition horse. It worked for me but it did feel like forever! After this I was on him walking out building up to an hour and introduced trot when the vet gave the go ahead. Don't be too dispondent it can come good.
 
Can I ask if your horses were visibly lame? My mare has a swelling on her right fore just below knee.....had vet out too much swelling to scan...shes on danilon twice a day.....she isnt sore on it anymore....but I can still see swelling and I can still see she isnt right.....shes being turned out still as she would do tooo much damage in the stable.....
 
My boy was never really lame and on vets advice we just carried on hacking that summer then hunted that autumn and he has been hunting ever since. ........no bute or anything. He is 18 now.
 
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