Help! Even the vets don’t know what to say!

[Cturner98]

My horses hind leg was quite unstable when I first had him even though he passed a 5 stage vetting and even more so after his accident when he pulled back causing acute SI strain. He was very weak and ataxic behind and would shuffle when being asked to move across when tied up and would often tread on his own feet. It was suspected by various professionals that he may have already had SI issues and his accident just exacerbated what was already there.

But lots of ground work, core work and building topline has helped him tremendously and he is a different horse now and rarely 'loses' his leg when ridden and it doesn't twist inwards hardly as much as it used to. He is also stronger behind and doesn't shuffle or tread on his feet anymore when asked to move out of the way.

Would you say your horse is quite weak behind anyway?
Did they check his SI at any point to see if it was painful when palpated?

I’m glad you commented this, yes they did briefly check his SI and yes he was sore there! And also treads on his own feet, he’s better than he was from the initial fall but still very clearly lame, worse in walk than trot ! What would u advise I do to find out if it is the SI

 

[Cturner98]

I would get an examination from the best' local to you' osteopath just to get another quick opinion...it does sound pelvis related, but so hard to say from a chat room post, and then take it from there for more extensive and thorough treatment. It might help give you an idea of what lies ahead. Good luck.

Thankyou for ur comment I think this may be a very good idea going forward !

 

[Red-1]

yes I’d say he’s very lame, actually looks worse in walk than trot! I deffo don’t think he should just be left the way he is, the weirdest thing is there’s no heat or swelling anywhere, they did have a feel of ligaments and tendons said everything seemed ok x

I have had 2 with ligament damage (one was the one I gave as an example) and neither could be seen with looking/palpation. One was in the hoof, so not visible and the other was a suspensory, but the actual leg felt fine. We did a progressive nerve block workup followed by an ultrasound MRI once we knew where to scan.

 

[Lady Jane]

We are all making suggestions but a good referral practice is what you need. When you get a referral, you will get a quote with details of what is planned and you can ask them whether they think it is SI/neurological etc but it doesn't sound as though there has been enough investigation to know? They may need to change their plan on the day depending what they find. I would really recommend you be there as it's much easier to discuss there and then. If they want to do something and need your approval there is no delay. I have no experience of referral practices in your area but I do think any vet/farrier/equine referral hospital will have some good and bad reviews.

 

[nutjob]

I’m just wondering why a lot of people on here don’t recommend there

I can pm you with some of my experiences if you like.

I would really recommend you be there as it's much easier to discuss there and then.

Yes, I would certainly recommend you use a referral practise which allows you to be present. Not just for the above reason but also so you can cross check your bill with the investigations / treatment your horse has received .

 

[Cturner98]

I can pm you with some of my experiences if you like.


Yes, I would certainly recommend you use a referral practise which allows you to be present. Not just for the above reason but also so you can cross check your bill with the investigations / treatment your horse has received .

Yes please could u pm me

 

[Birker2020]

I’m glad you commented this, yes they did briefly check his SI and yes he was sore there! And also treads on his own feet, he’s better than he was from the initial fall but still very clearly lame, worse in walk than trot ! What would u advise I do to find out if it is the SI

Hi there. I would advise forgetting about riding for the time being and build up your horse and engage his core and strengthen it. I'd contact a good ACPAT physio (I can recommend an excellent one if you are in the Midlands) and they can give you a plan to show you how to carry out stretches. So you can then incorporate stretches, raised poles, lunging over poles, using a pessoa or similar to get the horse to stretch and use itself, long reining on different surfaces and doing a lot of transitions to encourage the horse to push off with the affected leg. Also consider buying a therapy band to try and engage your horses hind quarters and stomach (core). I don't really know the ins and out of using a therapy band but this lady can help advise you. https://www.performance-animal-phys...kyyilyul-b66843bb-afb4-4d21-9ea2-83e5eca5c469 - she is one of many selling this type of thing, I'm not plugging her, just showing you what it does and how it helps.

I must emphasise that you will need to work with your vet and physio with what I've suggested in case I have suggested something that might be detrimental to your horses recovery. I spent 6 months on the ground, I thoroughly enjoyed it and hated it in equal measures, got incredibly frustrated about not riding and got progressively bored towards the end but felt my horse was worth a shot and besides I didn't really have a choice. He'd been a competition animal before so he felt incredibly bored too but we perserved. I can't explain the excitement and thrill you feel when a horse, head down, watches you move your legs and then attempts to move its legs in tandem to yours over a row of raised poles. It feels really worthwhile training. I'm sure your horse wouldn't take that long, Lari had quite a bad injury to be fair.

Now we are back riding again and wouldn't change Lari for the world, I love the horse to bits. You can see the progress photos below. He's a totally different horse now, when I stand next to him I can't believe how different he looks.

 

[Melody Grey]

Big recommendations for Pool
House from me- have used them both for day to day care and referral work for many years. There is a vet I prefer not to work with (PM
Me if you wish), though for personal reasons which don’t reflect their capabilities as a vet.

They have an in-house insurance specialist who may be able to help you navigate your claim- they have fully handled mine many times very professionally.

 

[Cturner98]

Hi there. I would advise forgetting about riding for the time being and build up your horse and engage his core and strengthen it. I'd contact a good ACPAT physio (I can recommend an excellent one if you are in the Midlands) and they can give you a plan to show you how to carry out stretches. So you can then incorporate stretches, raised poles, lunging over poles, using a pessoa or similar to get the horse to stretch and use itself, long reining on different surfaces and doing a lot of transitions to encourage the horse to push off with the affected leg. Also consider buying a therapy band to try and engage your horses hind quarters and stomach (core). I don't really know the ins and out of using a therapy band but this lady can help advise you. https://www.performance-animal-phys...kyyilyul-b66843bb-afb4-4d21-9ea2-83e5eca5c469 - she is one of many selling this type of thing, I'm not plugging her, just showing you what it does and how it helps.

I must emphasise that you will need to work with your vet and physio with what I've suggested in case I have suggested something that might be detrimental to your horses recovery. I spent 6 months on the ground, I thoroughly enjoyed it and hated it in equal measures, got incredibly frustrated about not riding and got progressively bored towards the end but felt my horse was worth a shot and besides I didn't really have a choice. He'd been a competition animal before so he felt incredibly bored too but we perserved. I can't explain the excitement and thrill you feel when a horse, head down, watches you move your legs and then attempts to move its legs in tandem to yours over a row of raised poles. It feels really worthwhile training. I'm sure your horse wouldn't take that long, Lari had quite a bad injury to be fair.

Now we are back riding again and wouldn't change Lari for the world, I love the horse to bits. You can see the progress photos below. He's a totally different horse now, when I stand next to him I can't believe how different he looks.

View attachment 90736

Amazing! Yeah I’ve not even thought about riding him he’s far too lame at the moment and I wouldn’t want to hurt him! Also he was put on danilon for 5 weeks he’s come off it a week ago and is walking the same which makes me wonder! I’ve been told by my vet to just basically keep him as a field ornament, I would throughly enjoy doing ground work exercises with him, he’s sooo full of life I just don’t want to give up on him, but also scared I would injure him more ! And yes I am in the Staffordshire area if u could recommend someone !

 

[Cturner98]

Big recommendations for Pool
House from me- have used them both for day to day care and referral work for many years. There is a vet I prefer not to work with (PM
Me if you wish), though for personal reasons which don’t reflect their capabilities as a vet.

They have an in-house insurance specialist who may be able to help you navigate your claim- they have fully handled mine many times very professionally.

Hiya, Ive done some research and im not sure how much pool house would be able to help me, looks like I may have to go with three counties if he was to have further scanning as they are the only one in the country that have a MRI scanner than can scan higher up (stifle area and pelvis). Ive always loved poolhouse, pretty gutted they cant do it !

 

[Cturner98]

Can anyone recommend any good Osteopaths? and physios ? I have had a physio out already who said he felt really good for his age, she was really good but didnt have a clue what to suggest about my horses lameness.... Im thinking maybe a Osteopathic vet would be able to help a little more?

 

[Melody Grey]

Hiya, Ive done some research and im not sure how much pool house would be able to help me, looks like I may have to go with three counties if he was to have further scanning as they are the only one in the country that have a MRI scanner than can scan higher up (stifle area and pelvis). Ive always loved poolhouse, pretty gutted they cant do it !

Presumably you’ve talked to one of their vets re: their imaging? I’ve only ever had feet done there so didn’t occur to me they may not be able to MRI scan other bits?!

 

[Cturner98]

Presumably you’ve talked to one of their vets re: their imaging? I’ve only ever had feet done there so didn’t occur to me they may not be able to MRI scan other bits?!

Yes I have they can only MRI Scan the lower leg

 

[Tiddlypom]

If he's safe to travel then I'd get him over to Angela Holland, a chiropractor vet who does clinics at Whitegate Farm, near Hope, Wrexham, just across the England/Wales border. She does travel but not as far as Staffs, I think, but could be wrong.

She is a highly experienced equine vet who has now additionally trained in chiropractic. Unlike some vet osteos which get recommended on here, she will watch your horse move as part of her assessment.

https://www.equineveterinarywellnessclinic.co.uk/

She is a genius in her own right, but will definitely refer him on if she thinks further veterinary investgations are required. She has transformed my own mare who had a major pelvic injury after slipping in the field.

Good luck.

 

[Cturner98]

If he's safe to travel then I'd get him over to Angela Holland, a chiropractor vet who does clinics at Whitegate Farm, near Hope, Wrexham, just across the England/Wales border. She does travel but not as far as Staffs, I think, but could be wrong.

She is a highly experienced equine vet who has now additionally trained in chiropractic. Unlike some vet osteos which get recommended on here, she will watch your horse move as part of her assessment.

https://www.equineveterinarywellnessclinic.co.uk/

She is a genius in her own right, but will definitely refer him on if she thinks further veterinary investgations are required. She has transformed my own mare who had a major pelvic injury after slipping in the field.

Good luck.

Yes he is safe to travel, I will certainly have a look at her ! Thankyou

 

[Cturner98]

My horse has been on 24/7 turnout for past few days and he seems to of improved a bit ! Certainly walking better than he was! How odd

 

[Hollylee1989]

My horse has been on 24/7 turnout for past few days and he seems to of improved a bit ! Certainly walking better than he was! How odd

That's Great to read! How is he doing now? Could it be arthritis setting in

 

[AmyMay]

My horse has been on 24/7 turnout for past few days and he seems to of improved a bit ! Certainly walking better than he was! How odd

How did you get on with the referral?

 

[Zoeypxo]

I would send him to a vets practise for a full lameness examination.
Usually they nerve block the SI/suspected areas then trot up to see how the horse then moves.
I would be tempted to see a chiropractor/osteopath although from experience they don't always like to treat and actively lame horse with no diagnosis.
I would reccomend Tom Beech (the oteopathic vet) .

if he is better with 24hr turnout it could be arthritic changes, although we had a horse with Suspensory damage and he was better when constantly moving.

 

[Jules111]

I agree, Tom Beech is excellent and will try to improve horse as much as possible without surgery/significant medical intervention.

If you're still looking to go for a full, detailed work up and whilst still insured it's worth having I'd recommend Hirds. A good way to travel but you will get answers. They have a couple of vets (Tim and Peter) who are world class and I've seen horses who were complete write off's come back into work from their intervention.