DollyDolls
Well-Known Member
This is to give hope to those who have recently or currently got horses with DDFT injuries.
Mine suffered his back in the spring of 2010. He must have done it in the field and it was slight intermittent lameness to start, it showed only when in work and worst on tight circles.
I wont lie, I left him alone for the 1st month hoping it was nothing, then he was misdiagnosed, then after about 2-3months later he was hopping lame, practically on 3 legs and off he went for surgery (didn't bother with MRI).
He came out of surgery on 4 legs and about 6 months box rest started. This is box rest for the country's leading box walker!
He had egg bar shoes and I gave him blue chip dynamic.
He had to be led in hand for the 1st 3months in hand increasing to 20mins twice a day. Then I started exercise under saddle.
The next 3 months were tough as I was paranoid at every stage when the workload increased. A few little set backs, but generally he stayed sound and we were able to turn out. I brought this forward, as my own sanity was in question at this stage.
Fast forward another year, and a few blips later, I have a perfectly sound horse which I choose to not jump, but he hacks out on all terrain & is going very well. He has a life, certainly has a job and I'm so grateful that I treated him like a horse and not a piece of china.
I am certain that without surgery he would not have improved, as he was getting steadily worse without intervention. Good luck to all of those battling it and most of all thanks to Petplan who paid for the vet bills which has given him a second chance.
Mine suffered his back in the spring of 2010. He must have done it in the field and it was slight intermittent lameness to start, it showed only when in work and worst on tight circles.
I wont lie, I left him alone for the 1st month hoping it was nothing, then he was misdiagnosed, then after about 2-3months later he was hopping lame, practically on 3 legs and off he went for surgery (didn't bother with MRI).
He came out of surgery on 4 legs and about 6 months box rest started. This is box rest for the country's leading box walker!
He had egg bar shoes and I gave him blue chip dynamic.
He had to be led in hand for the 1st 3months in hand increasing to 20mins twice a day. Then I started exercise under saddle.
The next 3 months were tough as I was paranoid at every stage when the workload increased. A few little set backs, but generally he stayed sound and we were able to turn out. I brought this forward, as my own sanity was in question at this stage.
Fast forward another year, and a few blips later, I have a perfectly sound horse which I choose to not jump, but he hacks out on all terrain & is going very well. He has a life, certainly has a job and I'm so grateful that I treated him like a horse and not a piece of china.
I am certain that without surgery he would not have improved, as he was getting steadily worse without intervention. Good luck to all of those battling it and most of all thanks to Petplan who paid for the vet bills which has given him a second chance.
