Follow on - possible DDFT injury, MRI results and next steps..

TheSylv007

TheSylv007

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www.ridewelland.co.uk
I posted a little while ago http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...o-it-begins-again-possible-DDTT-injury-Gutted

about my mare who had come in lame from the field and I was worried it was another DDFT injury. Well after 6 months of following vets advice and box resting, walking, steroids and remedial shoes with none of it working I demanded to be referred for an MRI which went ahead yesterday. Turns out she has another titchy tear in her DDFT and due to her previous surgery, her navicular bursa is a little rough and 'gummed up' according to the vet. This is causing it to niggle. Once again the vet at the hospital started to suggest remedial shoes (heart bars this time) or a neurectomy, neither of which I feel are options I want to go with. I've mentioned Rockley numerous times to my vet and finally managed to get her to read the briefing note as I contacted Nic when the remedial farrier came as I had a feeling it wouldn't help. I really feel like I'm being brow-beaten into pursuing remedial shoes (her feet have actually worsened in shape in the five weeks the shoes have been on) and that if I don't do it and things don't improve I get the 'told you so' attitude as they just will not accept barefoot as a way forward.

My feeling is that this injury isn't responding to extended rest and she needs to be moving around. I will be contacting Nic at Rockley again now I have a firm diagnosis to try and take it forward but I know I'm going to get raised eyebrows and resistance from the vet. It's very frustrating. I just wondered what other's thoughts are on here? I know I could carry on at home but I just can't give her the work that she needs as she is awful to hack alone and I work full time so am limited. If she went away she would get the controlled movement that I can't manage at home.

I know what my instinct is telling me but I guess I need a bit of moral support with arguing my case against the experts, especially as I can see that the first thing they will say is that I need to give the remedial shoeing more time as she only wore the graduated shoes for 5 weeks. Incidentally after 5 weeks in them she was more lame than she has been in the whole 6 months she's been off. This could coincide with the last steroid injection wearing off though.

My YO thinks I should just bute her up and starting riding, my trimmer says shoes won't help, my vet says they will, the hospital vet says they will - I'm so confused and conflicted.

Does anyone have any advice with getting a horse to Rockley? Or any ideas on costings? Obviously I will contact them direct again.

Not sure what I want from this post but just needed to get some thoughts and frustrations down as I know you guys understand!
 
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Find a new vet, and be brave and send the horse to rockley.

Mine went in January, there was an 8 week waiting list at that point I think. It was £180 a week for everything. He went for just under 12 weeks. I drive from leeds to Devon and hired a nippy 3.5t wagon, I'd fully recommend it. The lanes tound there are narrow and very easy in a little lorry. More boring details, I stayed in the premier Inn in Barnstaple as it was easy, had an attached pub and WiFi etc, no fuss like in lots of small b&bs.
 
stencilface said:
Find a new vet, and be brave and send the horse to rockley.

Mine went in January, there was an 8 week waiting list at that point I think. It was £180 a week for everything. He went for just under 12 weeks. I drive from leeds to Devon and hired a nippy 3.5t wagon, I'd fully recommend it. The lanes tound there are narrow and very easy in a little lorry. More boring details, I stayed in the premier Inn in Barnstaple as it was easy, had an attached pub and WiFi etc, no fuss like in lots of small b&bs.
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Thank you, that is just the kind of reply I was hoping for. £180 is quite steep but it's worth it if it works.
 
Firstly, so sorry you're in this situation, it's really not nice :( My pony was diagnosed with navicular syndrome and a DDFT tear amongst other issues in her front hooves, in August. The treatment plan was remedial shoes and box rest, etc. After lots of research, reading the entire Rockley blog and talking to lots of people, I decided to try the barefoot rehab route, I couldn't afford to send my girl to Rockley so I'm doing the barefoot rehab myself. I have to say it is quite time consuming, we're up to walking out for an hour on the roads five days out of seven and it has definitely got harder fitting it in now it's dark at night (I've moved to doing mornings during the week, as I work full time too). I think sending to Rockley gives you a fantastic headstart in the rehab, but when they come home you still have to keep up the very regular roadwork, so it could be just as much work once your horse is home as it would be to do it yourself....Although, you may get much faster results if you can do Rockley first. I think what I'm trying to say is if you don't have time now, you may spend the money getting a great headstart at Rockley, but once your horse is home, would you then have the time to carry on? If not it could possibly be a waste of money. I follow a few ex-Rockley rehabs on fb (I think there are lots on here too, stencilface for one, that may be able to give better advice than me about the programme they need to follow when home) and they seem to have to do an hour or more of roadwork two days out of every three to keep improvements happening. I'm not trying to be negative, but thought I'd just mention it. Although, if you sent to Rockley over the winter (I think they like to take them for three months) light nights would be starting when your horse came back, so it could work out really nicely. Lots of luck for recovery whatever you decide xx
 
Yes, getting rid of my horse during the dark months was a definite bonus!

TBH these days his feet I think are fine, I don;t manage them so much, he goes in the arena 2-3 times a week and hacks out 1-2 times a week, all depends on how much time I have. You can do the rehab yourself, and the more you do in the start the better, but sorting the diet and taking the shoes off is a good start. Winter is a good time to start imho as you have less issues with possible grass problems than in spring and summer. TBH the more you can get done yourself, the better, and if you go down the rockley route, they might not need such a long stay. Your insurance may pay for some of it, although only if your vet recommends it. Can you get your vet to ring any Rockley sympathetic ones?!
 
Get a new vet as a starting point. She's your horse you shouldn't feel browbeaten into anything. Shoes must be costing you a fair bit and she's getting worse. Offset the Rockley fees against normal cost to keep her, shoes, and a broken horse and it starts getting quite cheap.

Or do it yourself.

I have just taken the shoes off a sports pony that has been shod for 14 years. He's landing toe first currently. We are walking him on tarmac for 10 mins a day and competing him on a surface/riding in the field for the moment. I've done it before so I'm not at all worried although he will be the first one with a bad landing I've done and also the first one I've actually remembered to document from start to finish!
 
Yes I think I've worked out it will take me 3 years or so to recoup the Rockley costs in not having shoes.

Whereabouts are you? Someone might be able to recommend a good vet and trimmer? Tbh with a supportive vet and a good trimmer you wouldn't necessarily need to send him away x
 
Great news, my vet has agreed to give consent for Rose to go to Rockley so she's confirming with Nic and we can go on the waiting list! Feel much more positive now - if nothing else she will have a lovely time there instead of being of cr*ppy box rest and boring in hand walking with me :)
 
Great news for you, I really hope your horse can be the trailblazer for your vets and we'll have another bf success story next year.

And hooray for your horse not having to do the box rest!
 
stencilface said:
Great news for you, I really hope your horse can be the trailblazer for your vets and we'll have another bf success story next year.

And hooray for your horse not having to do the box rest!
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I really hope so, it would be fantastic to be able to go back to the vet and show them a positive result from a non 'textbook' treatment plan. As awful as it sounds it will be nice not to have have to deal with it every day, 6 months of rest and walking and getting nowhere was starting to take its toll on us both. Rose probably won't want to come home!
 
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