Experiences with tendon injuries

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Lacuna

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Hey guys - this is my first posting on the forum after being a long-time lurker
in the corner. I have an issue on my mind which is purely hypothetical at the
moment but may solidify into something more solid by the New Year.

I’m currently horseless, although I’ve been sharing a lovely pony for about a
year, I’m now aiming to get one of my own. A friend has a mare who is a heavyish cob, 14yo, 16.1 with a lovely nature and has a great record as a confidence giver for her owner. They were thinking of selling her in 2009 and I had half an eye on her but then decided to have one last season’s hunting. However she blew a tendon and ended up with 6 months box rest.


She is now recuperating in the field and the prognosis seems good. They will
still be selling her at some point and I am still interested but don’t know what
long-term effects this may have. I’m primarily a happy hacker who does a bit of schooling (mostly in the winter), don’t like jumping much and have no
competitive urges.

Just wanted to know what what experiences people on here might have about recoveries from tendon injuries. and what if any long term effects they might have. Is this a good idea to consider her a first horse?

SOrry for the length - I believe it is traditional to offer chocolate covered baked goods at this point :)
 
My connie (the grey in my siggy) suffered a tendon injury about 2/3 years ago whilst warming up for a show jumping round. He used to be a grade B show jumper but is now 20, plus has the history so we have settled for a quieter life. I don't jump him too far over 3' 3", as recommended by his vet however we still do show jumping and hunter trials. I have also started affiliated dressage. They can still have a great future after a tendon injury however it does depend in the severity of it. Just listen to what the vet has to say :)
 
hello lurker as long as the vet says she is going to make a full recovery then she should be fine (no guarente though) my little mare has had so many injeries and can still do full work including the go ahead from the vet to hunt so you never know where was the tendon injery and what was it ????
 
My ex racer had two tendon injuries on the same leg before I got him. He came to me by chance (and a lot of luck) when his previous owner was going to put him to sleep because of it. My vet scanned him and decided that the prognosis was very good. 6 weeks field rest, bring him back into work and he would be ready for anything. I gave him about 4 months rest followed by 2 months of inhand walks & brought him back into work very slowly. I've had him nearly 3 years and have had no lameness issues at all. We do mainly hacking & schooling and have only jumped ditches because he didn't want to walk through them :rolleyes:. I am weary of jumping him even though the vet assured me that it would do no harm.

Your vet should be able to tell exactly whats going on with the tendon from a scan and you will know from that whether to go for it or not.
 
My ex-racer who is now 20 broke down and did BOTH superficial flexor tendons. They are both seriously bowed. He was given time off by the trainer, but there was no chance he was ever going to race, so I bought him cheaply. He has NEVER been lame apart from when he broke his leg 3 years ago. He is perfectly sound on both front legs. I mainly do dressage and hacking, but I used to do jumping with him - only up to about 2'6" at home, and he never ever went lame, or sore.
 
totally depends on the severity of it, some minor 'tweaks' and you would hardly be able to see anything there fterwards, some major ruptures and the horse will never even be paddock sound. If all you want to do is hacking and a little schooling then you can chance a lot more than someone who wanted to do more. If the owners are still thinking of selling then it sounds like it wasnt too bad a strain (ie still sellable) so could well be worth a punt. Make sure the price has come down from before though!!!
 
Depends how bad it is. A mare at my yard did both her tendons (can't remember which ones) of her front legs on a fun ride where her owner cantered her in heavy ground. Basically, one of her tendons has a rip spreading the width of the tendon, the other has a hole in it.

The vet says they think she'll be a walking hacker only, as although her tendons will get better, they will be repaired with scar tissue, no tendon, so although her tendons will be strong, they will be weak in the sense scar tissue can't move as tendons do etc. She has 2 or 3 months box rest and then exercises to encourage the scar tissue to form in the right direction.

Hope this is not the case with your friend's horse.
 
Many thanks for all the replies. Its very interesting to hear about all your 'osses :)

I don't know too many details at present (its all been in the realm of chatting rather than serious enquiries) I think she did one of the tendons in the near foreleg, I know they are working closely with the vet and certainly want to get her right before selling on. I'll be keeping an eye on how things progress with her.

Thanks again for the nice welcome :)
 
Tendons for happy hackers - in the main don't worry - my vet said don't run (in points) again ever.....but will be right as rain for hacking - we gave him a year off and was 3rd when not fit in 1st race back.....legs as cold as ice the next day......Back in training this year - fingers crossed.......
 
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