ddft rehab

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neweventer

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My mare had a small tear to her DDFT which we initially box rested for 8 weeks. As there was no improvement she was operated on in july last year, 8weeks after her injury. She had 8 weeks of further box rest, then did the inhand walking then small field turn out. She has been hacking out (building up slowly since Nov) and the vet gave us the all clear to start cantering in straight lines with a view of schooling by the end of march. I haven't done much canter work yet as the fields have been so bad and the vet doesn't really want me cantering in the school (in circles). She has never been lame with the injury.
How long do people feel it will be before she is able to get back to jumping. The vet seems to think we will be jumping april/may time.
It was only a small tear (no hole- just fraying to the side which was removed) but I am worried about going to quick or indeed too slow.
 
I'm very confused, sorry. Your horse was never lame yet she was operated on? And your vet does not want you to canter circles in March but thinks you will be jumping in April? That so does not make sense to me that I can't offer any advice, but I hope she returns to full work OK.
 
Sorry, I think I just wrote everything down in no particular order.

I noticed a swelling to the leg after running around a one day event. The vet was out to look at the other horse of mine and I asked her to look at her.
She said it looked like a tendon injury and had the uss with her. She wasn't lame at the time but it looked like there was a small tear on the ddft.
We box rested her and there was no improvement in the tear so she was sent to Liverpool who operated on her. She was reviewed at Leahurst 3 months after and we were told to start hacking. My vet has now seen her another 3 months on and has said we can start schooling her but wants her cantering in a straight line rather then on circles at the moment.
 
Mine had a tear to his DDFT within his foot and although he didn't have an op I should imagine the rehab should be similar.
He had one month box rest and his navicular bursar was injected, followed by building up from 5 mins walk a day, increasing in 5 minutes each 5 days until he was up to an hour walking. We then introduced trot work in the same way increasing by 5 mins every 5 days. After that canter work was introduced. After a month of including canter work he had a further month of work which included schooling and then he was allowed to start jumping again.
He was on box rest in May last year and commenced jumping in December.
Good luck with yours, but don't be tempted to rush anything.
 
thankyou for your reply. it makes me feel better. our plan has been slightly differenct but we are 7 months post surgery now and just started our canter work so looking to start jumping at 9th month
 
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