competing after suspensory damage

Nightmare before Christmas

Nightmare before Christmas

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My 4 year old has suspected high suspensory ligament damage. We have no idea how, hes been in light work and not turned out due to college. He has good conformation also. No heat, no swelling, and minimal lameness on one rein only.

He is now being referred to newmarket for further tests to determine his future.

Has anyone elses horse been through the same? What was their fate? If they did compete again did the injury ever come back?
 
Depends on the severity of the injury but one of mine did come back successfully from a suspensory injury. He also had no swelling/and was not obviously lame; he just started playing up in canter transitions and I could tell something was not quite right. It took a while to be back to full work/jumping but we never had a re-occurance and he went on to do a bit of everything including low level eventing. Fingers crossed yours will be the same!
 
I hope he can do something! He is super talented and I planned to do the 4 year olds this year. We got as far as a couple cross poles at home before a week later he went lame for no apparent reason!

The lesions on the ultra sound were small, hence the trip to newmarket to find out more!

I am pleased to hear your horse returned to work! I guess it depends if my horses injury to due to a weakness, that will give once he starts work again, or if its just really unlucky!

Thank you
 
Is he insured? Stem cell (+/- PRP) treatment radically improves 'return to previous work' rates as the ligament heals without a weak band of fibrous tissue filling the deficit. However I'm sure Newmarket will let you know if either treatment is indicated.
 
I am afraid to say my experience of this was not good. I lost my beloved horse yesterday, despite having surgery

turns out they are finding more and more cases of degenerative suspensory ligament disease. more often in those that have not suffered and obvious injury ie not known to have been stupid or damaged it while being ridden

I do know that if ever I am in a similar position again I will want all 4 suspensories scanned BEFORE I ever consider long term treatment. As I would never again put a horse through surgery and or long term box rest if anything showed in front and rear suspensories:(
 
I am sorry to hear that.

We have scanned both fronts to compare, right suspensory is normal. Left has a small sign of something going on. There is a small chance that this is something from the blocks he had last week (its the exact area he was injected) so I am trying to be hopeful its that (but then his lameness isnt explained!)

He is coming sounder with rest and walking. I guess I just want to know where I stand with him. He is 4 years old and in light work (most hes done is jumped a 50cm upright with me on board). Did jump lose when I saw him, but this was a good while before he went lame so vets dont think there is a link. He also hasnt been out due to college turn out (not good for him but does mean I know he hasnt done it going daft in the field)!

Its all a bit odd and still doesnt add up. At worst he has a weakness in that leg and cannot jump. Which to me is a disaster as he was imported to jump 4 year olds and aim for sunshine tour next year! Its a lot of money, and talent to lose!

Im gutted and worried all at the same time!
 
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This is Ozzy! Who is now the limpy monster!
(yes I am in spurs, hes quite a stubborn, laid back kind. I rode him in ball spurs for a couple of days as he was scared of a schooling whip! He now doesnt need them. Just before anyone jumps on my back)
 
I hope it works out for you but it hasn't worked out for us. My boy was never more than 1/10th lame and we did all the rehab to the letter. He was sound for about three months and then broke down again as I increased his workload, we never made it back to jumping, just flatwork and hacking. I got him sound again but then he broke down in front as well, the vet thinks for compensating for what was going on behind.
 
I have heard rear is much worse than front! Sad about your horse!

To be honest I am only hopeful due to his talent, seems a waste and seems to have happened for no reason! From experience I am expecting him to not come sound enough for the job I need him to do! Unfortunately all my horses are for competition or sale rather than pets!

I fear if he recovers and I start competing the problem is likely to return, hence asking others on here! How he has done this is beyond me! I am doing an equine science degree and cover injuries like this and he has no typical symptoms of this (other than being lame on one rein and the ultra sound showing 'something'.

he is only 1/10th lame and improving each week
 
My kwpn gelding was diagnosed with a strained proximal suspensory in a front leg nearly 8 weeks ago. My vet ( who is a British team vet) said that in a front leg he has an excellent chance of making a full recovery so am hoping this proves correct! Apparently very different prognosis in a hind leg which is much worse. He has had a months box rest, has nearly finished a second month horse walking only, having shock wave and cartrophen injections. In 1 week I can start ridden work in walk and trot only slowly building up over another month. He then says he should be fine to return to full work so fingers crossed all goes well. Hope all goes well with yours.
 
I have a Morgan mare who did a rear suspensory 2 1/2 yrs back ... she was put in foal whilst recovering and came back sound, she has 84 dressage points prior to this injury but sorry no idea about a jumping horse coming back into competitive work following a suspensory ... however her legs will blow up standing in and I am very carefull about not drilling her on circles etc , if she is lunged she is only lunged 10 mins each rein...she has been back in work for over a year and has won out showing and is ususally champion or reserve dependent if I am showing my other horse against her (not Morgan classes but Foreign Breeds, usually judged by the sports horse judge )
 
The rear ones are worse than the front, my last horse had a similar problem to yours, had an injection and shockwave. He never looked back, now hunts regularly and apart from being careful about his weight and shoes I doubt he will. My current one has hind limb PSD, had a bilateral neurectomy and has come back competition sound. I am very lucky.
 
I forgot to add its a front suspensory! Not hind.

The ultra sound shows a small area of abnormality suggesting its a lesion in the top of the suspensory near the origin. Its not 100% clear that thats the issue (v small chance what we were seeing is from nerve blocks 6 days previous) Its not typical of a severe suspensory injury, its more suggesting to minor fibre damage!

Hence I am off to newmarket for a specialist to check it out and get a definite diagnosis and prognosis.
 
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