Has anyone had/known a horse with suspensory ligament problems?

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Paint it Lucky

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Has anyone had/known a horse with suspensory ligament problems? How did you treat it? How successfull was it?

Any experiences would be greatly appreciated thanks
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Which leg/s? What level of damage? Primary or seconday damage? Who diagnosed it? Age of horse? Level of work done?

Sorry to ask so many questions
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You got there before me, they were all the questions I was going to ask!!!
 
I know of a 6yr old that did both back suspensories (weirdly at about a months interval) and had shockwave treatment. Long story short horse was going to be put down, then given a year off, and just last week vet scanned both legs and said if they hadn't known of the injury, this horse would pass a 5* vetting! Not a single thing was showing up on the scans.
Shockwave therapy and turn away definately gets my vote.
 
Shockwave is effective for 40% of cases; surgery for 70% of cases. Turnaway alone is said to have little effect. There has been some success with stem cell work.

It depends on the level of damage and the age and level of work and whether primary or secondary.
 
Agree 100%
Shockwave wasn't successful for my 4 year old with very little mileage. The suspensories were so bad that they even felt she was inoperable. She was going to be a surogate mare then return to be scanned and possibly have the operation if things looked better. Sadly fate changed all that
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In my case it's a front limb, higher part of ligament (half way between fetlock and knee). Don't know what primary/secondary means! Horse is 9, injured itself out hunting months ago. Has come sound after rest and is slowly being brought back into work but occassionally gets heat in the injury which goes away after a few days rest and cold therapy. Vet not being very helpfull so wanted to know you guys experiences!
 
I 'think' the suspensory problems were hereditry as looking back she had a strange gait from the age of about 2 1/2 but it was just put down to her being a baby. She was backed and going sweetly in the school but once we started hacking things deteriorated very quicky and she was obviously in pain. She went to the RVC and was diagnosed with bilateral proximal suspensory damage to her hinds. This is normaly seen in advanced dressage horses and horses worked on deep / bad surfaces not newly backed youngsters!!
Sadly the day before she was due to go off for her holiday as an embryo transfer mare she was found in the field with a severed leg. Fate played a huge part and helped me to make a huge decision - at least I know now that she is not in pain.
 
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Mrs M, what sort of surgery do they do?

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I think the term is 'neurectomy' - the main nerve is cut.

My experience was with both rear suspensories. Four year old IDxTB. Very little work, I got her just after she was backed and she was lame for a good six months of the year I had her. Bought her October 2007; sent her to Sue Dyson at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket at the end of September 2008; Tiggy was put to sleep at the end of October 2008.

Tiggy had chronic damage: Sue was surprised to see such damage in such a young horse in so little work. Tiggy was not a candidate for either shockwave or surgery, the damage was too great. She could not have been a brood mare as her pelvis was going wonky due to the SLs. In the end she could not stale and could not walk very well.

Primary is when it's like Tiggy, the SLs were the main issue (primary), and the pelvis was secondary; whereas my new horse has a wonky pelvis and it caused some damage to the rear SLs - in this case the SLs are the secondary problem.

I would get your vet to get a referral to one of the big centres for a proper work up.
 
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Mrs M, what sort of surgery do they do?

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I think the term is 'neurectomy' - the main nerve is cut.

My experience was with both rear suspensories. Four year old IDxTB. Very little work, I got her just after she was backed and she was lame for a good six months of the year I had her. Bought her October 2007; sent her to Sue Dyson at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket at the end of September 2008; Tiggy was put to sleep at the end of October 2008.

Tiggy had chronic damage: Sue was surprised to see such damage in such a young horse in so little work. Tiggy was not a candidate for either shockwave or surgery, the damage was too great. She could not have been a brood mare as her pelvis was going wonky due to the SLs. In the end she could not stale and could not walk very well.

Primary is when it's like Tiggy, the SLs were the main issue (primary), and the pelvis was secondary; whereas my new horse has a wonky pelvis and it caused some damage to the rear SLs - in this case the SLs are the secondary problem.

I would get your vet to get a referral to one of the big centres for a proper work up.

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Gosh MrsM I never realised how scarily similar our cases were
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I wont comment on anything veterinary that can/is/will be done but on the shoeing side of things (and have tried these on a horse with SLdamage (hind legs)) Is easywalker shoes. They made him much more comfortable (he was sound though) and his wingals (he is not an older horse but had been in heavy work before this owner) completely dissapeared.
 
Sorry to read that Mrs Mozart
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So if they just cut the nerves that doesn't actually cure the problem does it, just stops the horse feeling it for awhile?
 
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[Gosh MrsM I never realised how scarily similar our cases were
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Scary, and very sad
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. I miss my girly.

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Me too hon {{hugs}}
 
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Sorry to read that Mrs Mozart
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So if they just cut the nerves that doesn't actually cure the problem does it, just stops the horse feeling it for awhile?

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Yes thats right as the nerves can, overtime, grow back.
 
The farrier thanks for that. I have been keeping my horse barefoot ever since he injured himself anyway, but he is doing a lot of roadwork now so i am thinking of putting shoes back on him (have tried hoof boots but they're useless!). Though I am reluctant to as I'm terrified he'll get navicular (probably silly but i'm like that) and don't want his legs jarred up. He dishes infront too which probably doesn't help. Those easywalkers do look good, do they stay on well even if the horse is in alot of work? (which i hope he will be again someday
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My 3yr old damaged a suspensory ligament and her treatment was Adequan injections and 6 weeks boxrest then controlled in hand exercise for a month or so. Prognosis was good and following a few return visits to the vets for scanning she was put into work. I kept her for another 6 years and she never had a problem again despite being in fairly hard work.
 
They stay on relatively well as they are nailed on. heavy mud can sometimes pull them (much like metal shoes)

Dont worry about the nav side of things as i have also used these shoes for horses with nav, ring bone and side bone. They can be a major help. A horse with nav has them on and they have made a huge difference to him. He used to be very choppy and comfortable (the owner bought him already diagnosed) and she says he has never been sounder or freer for her.

any questions let me know.

They prevent concussion and so help prevent nav
 
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Sorry to read that Mrs Mozart
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So if they just cut the nerves that doesn't actually cure the problem does it, just stops the horse feeling it for awhile?

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Yes thats right as the nerves can, overtime, grow back.

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My advanced medium dressage horse, who was an intermediate eventer prior to that, so had had a busy life, did his in at the age of about 22. It was the hind leg and the bit that went was where the ligament divides into two down to the heel - one of those branches was affected. You would never have known as he was just dragging his toe ever so slightly and it was only my instructor's sharp eyes that spotted it.

He was not insured and due to his age, conservative treatment was the order of the day. Box rest for 2 months, but even though he was the most placid horse, even he started to go box crazy. So, kill or cure, we turned him out in an unused arena divided into thirds where grass was poking through the old surface, with a companion and moved him every two days or so to the next third. We tentatively brought him back into work after about 6 months, but very lightly and gave him a year before really doing anything - like trotting!

He is now still going aged 26. He can still do his flying changes and the rest for a bit of fun, but I wouldn't compete him regularly again and certainly not at his previous level. Fortunately he is a fabulous hack. The vet's advice was that given his age, just keep him going while he's comfortable and do what you can with him until he breaks down for riding completely and then you haven't lost anything. He does as much as I want. I am in the fortunate position of being able to keep him when he does break down.

A friend bought a young horse for dressage which broke down at 6, both hind suspensories hock down. Had all the treatment, surgery etc, back into work, broke down again, more surgery, and retired as a brood mare at 9, unrideable in any way at all and question mark over her legs with carrying pregnancy weight.

My personal opinion is bring your youngsters on very slowly and you'll still be riding them 20 years later, should you wish to do so.
 
hi,
my six year old fractured her splint bone and although the bone healed the force of the fracture damaged her hind suspensory and also the nerves around the fracture. I have been told by the vet that she will probably never be ridden again and he said last october not to do shockwave but to turn her away for a year and then get her scanned again to see if there is any improvement. If there is no change then she will live out her days with me as a giant lawnmower as she is field sound and is in no pain - she manages to trot over beautifully when she sees a feed bucket!
Hope your pony is ok, on the bright side I know a lady whose horse did a suspensory and was off work for 18 months, and she won a BE intro section and is moving up to PN this season so it's not always a bad outcome x
 
My girl sprained a suspensory ligament 3 years ago. She had 3 months off, spa treatment for first 2 weeks and then controlled exercise for a month before being brought slowly back into work! Well I say slowly, the first day I rode her she took off in field at full gallop but luckily she was fine
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Mine decided to pull a front SL a couple of weeks ago..
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The vet has said she has had damage there before and she has obviously just tweaked it again whilst out in the field.
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Luckily she was only lame for the first day and is now on restricted turn out and is being cold hosed twice a day and is bandaged.
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At her age the vet doesnt want to scan as he feels its a bit pointless.
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My personal opinion is bring your youngsters on very slowly and you'll still be riding them 20 years later, should you wish to do so.

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My three and a half year old was brought on very ( very!) slowly, after all, I'd waited thity years for her and we had all the time in the world. Didn't stop the damage. As written earlier, at four and a half I had her PTS: I took her to Newmaket so they could do further research after she was gone.
 
You do seem to have been very unlucky there. What my vet said was that they are seeing more injuries like this and fewer concussion injuries which they used to do, as we ride more and more in schools in relatively restricted spaces in circles and less on roads and tracks in straight lines. The ligaments and tendons don't get a chance to harden up. Bit of a generalisation, I know, but that's what he told me. But no easy answer with the roads as they are today and the lack of bridleways and tracks.
 
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