Experiences of hind Suspensory damage (PSD region)

[Neptune]

Just having had my horse diagnosed with Suspensory ligament
Damage up by the hock/top of cannon bone in the hind legs (mainly
Right hind but is having shockwave on both)

Just looking for others experiences with the final outcome. All literature reads
That hinds do not have a high percentage of full recovery. Vet doesn't reckon damage is to bad and reckons he will respond well to the rest and hand walking etc. but still continues to remind me of the low percentage of cases returning
To full work.

Just want to know people experiences and their final outcomes.

My boy is still only 7 yrs old and I had many plans for him to
Be eventing this year. Just really hopeful that we can still have these
Plans in place just postponed to next year.

 

[Kelpie]

My mare has the same issue - coupled also with SI pain.

In her case we tried the opp but sadly no joy so it seems she is likely to be a field ornament Like you, I had hoped to event her. She was only 5 when diagnosed.

I can't offer you much by way of hope from my story, but there is a really good facebook group for horses with PSD and there are some success cases on there, if you join and have a look.

Best of luck

x

 

[Tiffany]

Not had personal experience although, a friend's mare had the op two years ago on both hind legs. She is back out competing at Medium and mare is going better than ever

 

[scramble_cam]

Hi

I know all horses are different in how they well they recover but I thought I'd share the positive outcome from when my mare damaged her hind suspensory in the same area.

She was about 9 yrs old when she damaged it. She also had shockwave therapy along side being kept in a small paddock/area to reduce movement. In total she had about 3 months off. This was followed by 3 months building up the walk and trot work in-hand and hacking, strictly following the guidelines given to me by my vet about how to slowly build up the work. I then gradually started schooling/jumping her and she went on to regularly compete at low level BE and BSJA and did pony club rallies and camp every summer so she did quite a lot of work. She had no problems with soundness until she developed an enlarged anular ligament in the same leg when she was 15. I am not sure if this was related but she had this operated on and again with 6 months of rest/inhand work she has been sound (touch wood! - this feels like tempting fate) for two years since and back hacking/schooling/light competing.

So they can recover in some cases. I remember reading online articles at the time and thinking her ridden career was over but I think as it was only mild damage (my horse thankfully is a drama queen so I detected the injury before it got worse) and I didn't rush to get her back to full work she recovered well.

Emma