Fractured knee and being worked

ktj1891

ktj1891

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So my pony fractured her knee when in 2010 and I was told she would never be ridden again except maybe in walk for a gentle hack. So she has been a field ornament the past 4 years and has just been out on loan and had a foal this year. She's been ridden a handful of times over the years and has always been sound and out in the field. She's coming back to me in November and I am toying with the idea of working her more consistently.

Does anyone have any experience of bringing horse back in work after this kind of injury?

Is it a case of just trying and seeing how she copes?
 
Yes if I did bring her into work I would get her looked at by my physio who regularly comes to treat my other horse
 
EKW said:
It depends which bone was fractured. We have had 2 horses successfully race again for years after fracturing/breaking the accessory carpal bone.
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I don't know the exact bone obviously it was the carpal bone, I think it was quite a bad fracture.
 
Mine fractured the accessory carpel bone last August, he also did his lateral collateral ligament at the begining of this year while recovering. The fracture was healling well and while my vet didnt think he would jump big stuff again due to some loss of flexion she did think he would come back into work. Unfortunately the ligament damage has changed that out come and he is looking at best a light hack. He knee is full of arthritis, bone spurs and scar tissue plus i have other issues due to the orginal injury.
I am riding just at walk at the moment and he seems ok, so fingers crossed he will continue to feel ok, i dont think he will make old bones thou and as soon as he doesnt seem to be able to cope with work i will call it quits.
Really the best thing to do it get the vet up to asses and work out plan for you to bring her into work. If she doesnt seem to be coping then reasses and go from there.
 
vam said:
Mine fractured the accessory carpel bone last August, he also did his lateral collateral ligament at the begining of this year while recovering. The fracture was healling well and while my vet didnt think he would jump big stuff again due to some loss of flexion she did think he would come back into work. Unfortunately the ligament damage has changed that out come and he is looking at best a light hack. He knee is full of arthritis, bone spurs and scar tissue plus i have other issues due to the orginal injury.
I am riding just at walk at the moment and he seems ok, so fingers crossed he will continue to feel ok, i dont think he will make old bones thou and as soon as he doesnt seem to be able to cope with work i will call it quits.
Really the best thing to do it get the vet up to asses and work out plan for you to bring her into work. If she doesnt seem to be coping then reasses and go from there.
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Hi Thank you for your reply. I think she actually fractured her main carpal bone, she has a very reduced flexion in the joint and yes probably has a good onset of arthritis. The only reason I ask is because she has remained sound in the field and very full of herself and sound on the odd occasion she was ridden afterwards. I guess the best thing for me to do is to just start her and see how she copes. Do 12 weeks walk work with her and progress from there. I have spoken to my vet about it in the past and she said just build her up and see how she copes.
 
ktj1891 said:
Hi I have spoken to my vet about it in the past and she said just build her up and see how she copes.
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All you can do is see how she goes and what she can take. You won't know until you try. Its a bit daunting I know - my vet said the same thing about my horse who had an unrelated injury. I started gradually and built up, staying at the same level of work for a couple of weeks before pushing for a little more, staying at that level, and then pushing more again. If i was uncertain I would drop down a level until I was happy the horse was okay.

Wouldn't hacking be the best thing for her, building it up gradually? good luck x
 
Yes that would be the aim just hacking I doubt she will do much more anyways. Just depends if she will cope mentally as well as she is quite a quirky pony who likes to get on with the job but also was never the best in traffic. I think I will just see how she goes and set no objectives. What will be will be. Just thought it would be nicer than her sat in the field as she did enjoy her work when she's in a routine.
 
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