hopscotch bandit
Well-Known Member
Gutted! On Saturday afternoon my horse went dramatically lame around 40 minutes into our hack. As she was so lame I had to get off her and lead her home. Her leg was very hot and swollen so the vet came out and wasn’t sure what was wrong with her but felt it could be either her DDFT strain or her Suspensory Ligament. She felt she had possibly sprained it with the mud in the field and it had just got to the point that it couldn’t stretch anymore.
The vet couldn’t make an accurate diagnosis as she wouldn’t let her lift her leg or touch it, she was really guarding it even after sedation. She said she had a strong pulse but not fast and was able to rule out an abscess as the pastern is not inflamed only above the fetlock to below the knee. She said box rest but to also walk her around the yard as she needs to walk as she has arthritis and we don’t want her to seize up so she is having some in hand grazing - before she gets to the point where she is too strong to walk in hand!
She is booked in for a scan next Monday and I am icing her leg with Ice Vibe boots twice a day and will start ice cupping this afternoon when I have finished work for Xmas and do that twice or three times a day, just hit her with everything I think.
On Sunday morning when I led her out of the stable, she was probably 1/10th lame. Given that she had intravenous bute 14 hours before and nothing after I was very surprised to find her as sound as she was which is good. My friend at the yard helped me last night, lending me bandages and putting them on for me as it’s a long time since I did this! She is also hosing her leg for me today whilst I’m at work, bless her.
This morning she was barely lame at all straight out of the box but the vet I spoke to on the phone this morning said this is usual with this type of injury, that they are acutely lame and then over a day or so get progressively better which is why this type of injury is dangerous and people start riding again, often with disastrous results.
Can’t believe it. So disappointed as I was looking forward to lots of xmas hacks with my friends. Never mind, that's horses for you. ☹
Instead I shall hit the gym and burn off the Xmas dinner! Lol
The vet couldn’t make an accurate diagnosis as she wouldn’t let her lift her leg or touch it, she was really guarding it even after sedation. She said she had a strong pulse but not fast and was able to rule out an abscess as the pastern is not inflamed only above the fetlock to below the knee. She said box rest but to also walk her around the yard as she needs to walk as she has arthritis and we don’t want her to seize up so she is having some in hand grazing - before she gets to the point where she is too strong to walk in hand!
She is booked in for a scan next Monday and I am icing her leg with Ice Vibe boots twice a day and will start ice cupping this afternoon when I have finished work for Xmas and do that twice or three times a day, just hit her with everything I think.
On Sunday morning when I led her out of the stable, she was probably 1/10th lame. Given that she had intravenous bute 14 hours before and nothing after I was very surprised to find her as sound as she was which is good. My friend at the yard helped me last night, lending me bandages and putting them on for me as it’s a long time since I did this! She is also hosing her leg for me today whilst I’m at work, bless her.
This morning she was barely lame at all straight out of the box but the vet I spoke to on the phone this morning said this is usual with this type of injury, that they are acutely lame and then over a day or so get progressively better which is why this type of injury is dangerous and people start riding again, often with disastrous results.
Can’t believe it. So disappointed as I was looking forward to lots of xmas hacks with my friends. Never mind, that's horses for you. ☹
Instead I shall hit the gym and burn off the Xmas dinner! Lol