Help/Advice needed in regards to post suspensory ligament treatment

Keridwen

Keridwen

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28 March 2011
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Hi all!

2 months ago my 16.3 hunter had a new blood therapy (which they say speeds up healing) performed on his suspensory ligament (off fore) when scans showed some damage to the ligament, the vet said it wasn't detrimental damage, (but it was enough to make him lame on/off for month before they finally said it was the suspensory causing the lameness). He also had key hole surgery for a piece of floating bone in the near fore done at the same time.
He had 6wks box rest, but was allowed a 10min walk a day leading up to 20mins of walk by the end of the 6wks. He's now allowed out in a small paddock, and had a final vet check 2wks ago, the key hole surgery leg is fine, vet said thats perfectly good now, and the suspensory leg i'm told is good now and to start riding him again.
So for the last 2wks i have ridden him in walk only for up to half hour 3 or 4 time a wk, my question and advice needed is for how long should i continue the walking before adding some jogging/trotting, and should i start on some gentle hill work? I don't need to get him proper fit yet, (not until august to get ready for the hunting season) I don't want to over do the recoop' too fast, any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks,
 
I was in exactly the same situation with my horse except he had rather a large hole in his and he was operated on. It is extremely difficult to know when to up work but I would always be cautious!!! My vet said to me that when I start trotting to do it on the road or similar surface as this will help strengthen everything up and they are less likely to have a 'moment' and do more damage. I walked my horse for a month then started short trots did that for a month. Then longer trots etc. one thing he did say is to do all this in a straight line avoid circles then when you do start canter make sure you stay large around the school. My horse is back to full work now but I still worry if I am doing too much etc. but in the end you just have to do it!!!.
 
Thats so helpfull of you guys, thanks, i'll do that pc, as i mentioned, we've walked for little over a month now, so think i'll see about starting some gentle trot work, and take it from there as you said, thanks.
Touchstone, i'm afraid that link took me too a wierd google ad page, didn't seem to work for me, but thanks very much.
 
Slow trot uphill on an even surface, preferably a grass field, building up distance slowly, but keep a steady pace, no fast trotting on hard surfaces.
Try to ride out very day, walking on roads is the best hardening for ligaments, and I mean walking out, not strolling along, I think you will be fine if no heat after six months.
When you are working up to fitness check legs every day before exercise, if a little heat, just walk that day and check again the next day.
 
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