Help! Hydrotherapy for my lame horse

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RocknRoller

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Kettering , Northants
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I need some advice. My horse has been lame for around 3 months now. He has had 10 weeks box rest and has now started to be turned out with controlled walking. He has some damage to a branch off his suspensary( The bit thats runs down the back of his pastern) He is sound in walk and trot in a straight line but not on a circle. I am wanting to take him for some hydrotherapy but I think it is too late for the spa to be beneficial as this is supposed to be done quickly after injury? There is also a water tradmill and swimming there. Does anybody have any recommendation of what would help??
 
Rest and let it heal properly, its worth doing it properly and letting in heal fully otherwise you will always have a weakness there.
Can you not turnout for a few months?
 
If there's no heat or swelling I can't see that cold water spa therapy would help. A water treadmill would help with fitness, but only if the horse is fit enough to go on one - its not cheap for a course long enough to make a difference. I used magnets on my boy with PSD and he had 6 months of box/small paddock rest and controlled walking, progressing to trotting, 10 weeks is still kind of early days imho, sorry :o
 
Thanks for your reply. I am not in any rush at all. I have just started ridden walk work for 30 minutes a day as he is too difficult to hand walk. He has now started being turned out for a few hours a day on Sedalin to keep him calm. I just wasnt sure if the water treadmill would help as this is low impact as an alternative to his controlled walking.
 
Water treadmill would help, but not sure how fit you want to get him if he's on box rest! :eek: Can you ask your vet, or ring somewhere with a treadmill and get their opinion?
 
Alternatively have you considered a rehab yard? My friend sent her boy to one as he was tricky to hand walk and he walked on the walker for 3 months on a gradual build up.
Def helped his recovery and now she has a fit and healthy boy!
 
Thank you Dianchi. Yes this would be good as unfortunately my Livery Yard does not have this facility. It may be quite costly for me to do this though. Luckily he is quiet to ride so the vet suggested I do his 30 minutes controlled walk by riding him instead of hand walking. His lameness had a 70% improvement after the 10 weeks box rest so I am hoping with another couple of months just walk work he will improve again. Its just hard to know if I am doing all the right things!
 
Mine might be going to a spa if her cellulitis doesn't get better, luckily we look like we're nearing the end, but it's still a thick looking, so a few spa sessions should help. I have been to one, and it's fab, horse love it too
 
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