Hard ground- What would you do?

[red marksman]

My daughter did her first event at kellsal hill on the 20th april. The next day her pony had soft swelling on the inside of his off hind just at base of suspensory ligament. Got vet out and he said that it was a result of jarring and to bandage at night and keep him in walk for the next few days. I have also been hosing it and putting Tensolvet on it and using magnetic boots!
The swelling goes down overnight but then reappears. Have now been treating it for 10 days and although the pony has not been unsound with it, the swelling is still there- like a small windgall. He is supposed to be doing a pony club event this weekend but I am concerned that as the ground is so hard it could cause more problems.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. I know this should prob be in veterinary, but it seemed relevant here as well.

 

[BroadfordQueen]

to be fair, unless we get a storm before the weekend, i think it would be wise to withdraw. i have had to withdraw my horse from 3 events already so far, even though she hasnt had any problems, we are just overly cautious!

 

[Santa_Claus]

personally I would withdraw injury or not unless the ground is especially good. There is no point pushing any horse on concrete ground if you want it to stay sound long term. I am meant to be HTing on sunday but if the ground isn't good (few places round us with old turf and good grass covering are still ok) I won't run, horse is worth more to me in the long run.

 

[red marksman]

Thanks!You have confirmed my gut feeling. Our next outing should be the Somerford Park event later in May, by which time we should hopefully have had plenty rain! The ground was actually not bad at Kellsall and he may have actually jarred himself out in the field the previous day- not that its any consolation! I'm sick as a chip as his we have had him for two years and his legs were as clean as a whistle before this.

 

[Thistle]

At a PC event the ground is unlikely to have had the same prep as a BE. I would withdraw, of if the sJ is on a surface just withdraw before XC.

 

[samp]

I would withdraw. I am meant to have a jumping lesson on Mon but I have requested that we go into the school as I refuse to wreck her legs on this ground. Meant to ODE end of MAy but I will not if there is no rain before

 

[henryhorn]

I really wouldn't run him on this ground.
I don't know what it's like where you live but here I would say the ground is what it's normally like in August, rock hard and no give whatsoever.
In my experience galloping over ground like that will make an injury worse, even causing something t break down and make you rest it for a year.
After discovering Jonty's tiny swellng last year was in fact a hole in her tendon I am much more cautious than I used to be. She had virtually no heat or swelling, was barely lame at all, yet the damage was significant. she has only just come back into work after virtually a year's rest.
I would wait until the pony's swellinghas gone down completely, or if you feel worried get a scan done to rest your mind.

 

[icestationzebra]

I wouldn't run him - especially with a concussion related swelling. The ground here is like concrete

We are lucky enough to have a ODE next week where the SJ is on a surface the the XC is run over sandy tracks - would have liked a XC run beforehand but I can't risk it.