Check Ligaments, enlighten me :)

[StarlightMagic]

My 'friend' has a pony who (in her own words) completely destroyed her check ligament. Now is this even possible, and if so what would the prognosis be for the horse returning to work Said horse in question is now 20 years old, and injury occurred about 18 months ago, had 1 year off work and then brought back into work (mainly hacking). However she does have ongoing soundness issues, which I personally put down to the owner (with good reason).
Can anyone enlighten me further with this injury, google hasn't shown up much for the specifics of this pony.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Fore is much more common than hinds and tend to heal better.

My lad done a hind, on 11 months in the box. First scan vets said the ligament was a 'mush'. Subsequent scans showed the fibres realigning very slowly.

Rehab started, but the months in box have affected hocks, back and feet. It is a heartbreaking situation at the moment and the future is looking poor.

My horse is 19 now, the injury happened in the field last August, he is a 17.2 mw show hunter.

Any check injury needs to be taken very seriously.

 

[StarlightMagic]

This one was/is a fore, not been scanned after 6 months box rest then 6 months field rest. Vet DID come out, as horse appeared lame one day, then the next the vet told the owner she could start riding again (no-one else heard this). I am just concerned for this old girls welfare

 

[AdorableAlice]

Doesn't sound right to me, I can see why you are concerned.

Without regular scanning after the first scan at point of injury, there is not a vet in the world that could say the healing process is complete.

We scanned each 3 months and compared the print outs to assess the healing process. The vets have just left me now, my horse is aching from head to foot after rehab exercise. The ligament seems to have shortened/become fixed and this is preventing him from dropping his heel to the floor properly. In turn he is compensating in the mechanical break over point, this altered action has given him pain in both hocks and his pelvis.

Watching him today he appeared lame in every corner, I have a fab team of vets but it is heartbreaking watching the horse struggle to recover.

I don't know what to suggest for the pony you are aware of, but it certainly doesn't appear to have received the appropriate treatment and effort required for such an extreme injury.