Collapsed Heals and suspensory ligaments

[Oliviabuttons98]

I have recently had to take my horse to the vets as he was presenting lame behind. After tests and x rays it has come back that he has severely collapsed heals on both hind feet and and therefore has had to have remedial farriery to help correct this. It turns out that he also has suspensory ligament issues and an enlarged Sacorillac which is causing him pain. The vets believe that this is due to the collapsed heals causing extra strain and pressure on his behind legs. He has been steroid injected in both hind legs and also in his Sacorillac and we start 5 weeks of walk work from today. Has anyone else experienced anything like this before and any advice is welcomed.

 

[Goldenstar]

It’s sadly not uncommon and I am sad to tell you that in my experience is the outcome is unlikely to be good .

 

[Cragrat]

Two facebook pages worth looking at:

Progressive Equine Services & Hoof Care Centre (the page is nowi n stasis, but has lots of relevant information)

The Equine Documentalist

 

[bouncing_ball]

It’s sadly not uncommon and I am sad to tell you that in my experience is the outcome is unlikely to be good .

i prognosis think it depends on what is causing what. If the negative pedal bone angles (collapsed heels) are causing the SI and suspensory inflammation I’d say the prognosis is pretty good, IF you find someone with the knowledge to build posture pedal bone angles snd regrow the heel.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Two facebook pages worth looking at:

Progressive Equine Services & Hoof Care Centre (the page is nowi n stasis, but has lots of relevant information)

The Equine Documentalist

Echo this.
Do you know what the hind pedal bone angles are? Normal range is plys 2 to plus 10.

I’d assume your horse’s angles are currently negative.

 

[sbloom]

I think it's impossible to pick out what was the original cause but what is clear is that all would need fixing, and I would want someone very skilled, and holistic, to decide whether to tackle all at once, or which to do first. Postural rehab (not just long reining, poles etc IMO) plus feet and any medical treatment needed.

Is the 5 weeks ridden? If it is I would start reading around for a more holistic approach - Tom Beech The Osteopathic vet and his network, Dan Wain Equestrian who is one the rehab trainers he works with, and there will be other similar approaches all over the country. Worth a second opinion.

 

[Regandal]

Ideally you need xrays of all 4 feet to find out exactly what’s going on in there. You also need a farrier/trimmer who can trim to correct - this has to be done gradually to avoid stressing the structures.
I would avoid shoes, but I am biased after seeing what remedial shoes did to my horses feet - basically held them fixed in a crap position with underun, crushed heels and atrophied frogs.
Can you take pictures of his feet, side on at ground level and looking directly down onto the sole?

 

[sbloom]

I would avoid shoes, but I am biased after seeing what remedial shoes did to my horses feet - basically held them fixed in a crap position with underun, crushed heels and atrophied frogs.

Do have a look a the organisations mentioned above, a different way of shoeing, wedges are used but in a completely different way. And I've been fairly evangelical about barefoot and anti wedges especially, for the same reasons as you.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Do have a look a the organisations mentioned above, a different way of shoeing, wedges are used but in a completely different way. And I've been fairly evangelical about barefoot and anti wedges especially, for the same reasons as you.

There are lots of X-ray and hoot alignment photos from those two expert farriers showing them correcting negative pedal bone angles and getting good heel growth at the correct angle in shoes with caudal support that doesn’t crush the back of the foot.

 

[Bellaboo18]

It's very hard to know what came first the damaged suspensories or the foot balance.
If you take a holistic approach though I actually think theres a good chance of success. I think the poor outcomes are where people look at one area in isolation. If your farrier/trimmer will work with your vet and xrays that's a good starting point but be prepared to change your plan around and have to address the suspensories before you'll nail the hoof balance.

 

[bouncing_ball]

It's very hard to know what came first the damaged suspensories or the foot balance.
If you take a holistic approach though I actually think theres a good chance of success. I think the poor outcomes are where people look at one area in isolation. If your farrier/trimmer will work with your vet and xrays that's a good starting point but be prepared to change your plan around and have to address the suspensories before you'll nail the hoof balance.

Also be aware that not all experienced, good reputation Farriers have the skills to successfully address caudal (back part) of the hoof failure!

look for someone with a track record of addressing caudal heel failure.

 

[Regandal]

Do have a look a the organisations mentioned above, a different way of shoeing, wedges are used but in a completely different way. And I've been fairly evangelical about barefoot and anti wedges especially, for the same reasons as you.

His feet are fine now, thank you. I have a very talented trimmer, she balances them and I tidy them up between visits. I reckon that his hind heels are a good inch or more higher, taking the strain off the suspensories.

 

[sbloom]

His feet are fine now, thank you. I have a very talented trimmer, she balances them and I tidy them up between visits. I reckon that his hind heels are a good inch or more higher, taking the strain off the suspensories.

I didn't mean that you needed the resources for your own use, but it's an interesting read if you're open minded. It certainly changed my mind to the extent that I comment very differently on posts like this now

 

[exracehorse]

Sorry to sound thick. Has his fetlocks dropped. Or is it something different?