Ddft injury - update

[ALO]

Just an update for anyone who was interested on my horse that had a tear to his ddft in his foot last year. He was diagnosed in Easter last year, shoes came off at the end of may. We have had a few ups and downs but he is now sound (touch wood) and hacking. We have started to do some school work and all seems to be going well.
Those of you that have brought a horse back from this type of injury, did they come back to full work and doing all activities? Was just wondering if I'll ever get to jump him again or whether we should just stick to flat. Obviously would love to be able to jump him again but this is so much better than what the vet predicted, maybe I should be just happy I can do what we are doing!

 

[mynutmeg]

My mare had a 50% or so leasion in her ddft of her hind leg about 18 months ago. She was never badly lame, just a little - the vet was suprised at the extent of the tear to her tendon compared to the lameness, he didn't expect to see anything on the scan - I'm just glad I insisted on scanning her
She's 10 months pregnant now so out of work however before she got too big I had been bringing her back into work for 4-5 months following about a year off work with very gradual build up of walking out etc. We haven't really done much in the way of schooling but had been doing lots of hacking including canter work (and a bit of gallop when she got left behind, not my choice ) She coped with it all absolutly fine, no heat, lameness or tenderness at all.
I will always be careful with her and the sort of ground we do any sort of fast work in - I hate boggy ground and will be careful about whether she jumps (I don't so not a huge issue) but see no reason why, with care, she can't do everything she did before

 

[ALO]

Thanks for that. Similar to what I was thinking. Just have to gradually increase work and see how we go!

 

[Charem]

Hi. My boy damaged his ddft in 2010, came back in to work in 2011, went lame again by June and had surgery in Aug and went barefoot from then onwards. He completed his first ODE since injury last week. It's been a very very long, stressful road but he is now registered BE and i'm hoping to be able to event him again.

His full story is on my website, click the link and skip the first three paragraphs to get to the bit about his injury and recovery.

http://theeventfuldiaries.weebly.com/unchartered-territory.html

 

[FfionWinnie]

Hi. My boy damaged his ddft in 2010, came back in to work in 2011, went lame again by June and had surgery in Aug and went barefoot from then onwards. He completed his first ODE since injury last week. It's been a very very long, stressful road but he is now registered BE and i'm hoping to be able to event him again.

His full story is on my website, click the link and skip the first three paragraphs to get to the bit about his injury and recovery.

http://theeventfuldiaries.weebly.com/unchartered-territory.html

What a cracking horse. I hope he stays sound for you, lovely boy.

 

[Charem]

Thank you. He's a special lad and I owe him a lot.

Best of luck with your horse OP

 

[ALO]

Thanks for your reply!nice to hear a good outcome. Mines a Charlie too!interesting story, I have my fingers crossed it all goes well for you. I'd love to BE mine again but appreciate it may not happen.

 

[Hoof_Prints]

This my little mare after tearing her ddft...

Vet said it was a very nasty injury- she went in for surgery but the injury was so scarred and damaged, it couldn't even be reached so had to abandon surgery attempt. Went through the rehab process- started off with those horrid wedge shoes which were taken off after gradual reducing. Vet said she'd be likely to have a 'career ending injury' and at least, never be able to jump.

Well we proved him wrong !

Regularly gallop and jump all day and she's never been buted or had a days lameness back out competing and her workload is very much full work !
Lots of horror stories with DDFT injuries, but given time they can come sound and tendon does regain elasticity.

 

[exracer superstar]

My mare sustained one last week and the vet seemed very disheartened about her ridden career although she has shocked us all by trotted up almost sound today and a much better scan, really good looking through this post it's a long road ahead but here's to a good recovery

 

[ALO]

Update for anyone interested. Took my boy to his first one day event since his injury yesterday and we won!!!we had the best dressage score he's ever had and he felt fab, we both really enjoyed it. He is still barefoot and didn't seem to struggle with the ground at all in face I think he slipped less.
Needed something good as lost my other boy to colic 2 weeks ago

 

[mynutmeg]

This my little mare after tearing her ddft...

Vet said it was a very nasty injury- she went in for surgery but the injury was so scarred and damaged, it couldn't even be reached so had to abandon surgery attempt. Went through the rehab process- started off with those horrid wedge shoes which were taken off after gradual reducing. Vet said she'd be likely to have a 'career ending injury' and at least, never be able to jump.

Well we proved him wrong !

Regularly gallop and jump all day and she's never been buted or had a days lameness back out competing and her workload is very much full work !
Lots of horror stories with DDFT injuries, but given time they can come sound and tendon does regain elasticity.

I think part of the problem is that people don't give them the time out of work they need - you're looking at months to a year or two and the longer rested the better.

Update for anyone interested. Took my boy to his first one day event since his injury yesterday and we won!!!we had the best dressage score he's ever had and he felt fab, we both really enjoyed it. He is still barefoot and didn't seem to struggle with the ground at all in face I think he slipped less.
Needed something good as lost my other boy to colic 2 weeks ago

brilliant - well done you two.
Really sorry for your other boy

 

[cptrayes]

Most of these replies seem to be for ddft injury in the leg. These bear not much relationship to ddft injury in the foot which is more like a repetitive strain injury.

If you've kept your horse barefoot, OP, then you should be able to go back to jumping like the many Rockley Farm rehabs who took over MK Equestrian Centre this weekend.

Both my rehabs did.