Hind Suspensories - experiences

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Cozrin

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Hi all,

My horse has just been diagnosed with PSD to both hind suspensories. Can I have peoples experiences please with outcomes. I dont mind if they are good or bad.

At present we have opted for rest and shockwave therapy as Im really not keen on the surgical option.

Please let me know whether you have got you horse back to full work again or not.

Thanks in advance
 
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My loan horse had surgery on both hind suspensories four years ago before I had him. He is now back in full work and, touch wood, has had no recurring problems. We don't jump as I feel would put too much strain on his legs but can still school for an hour and do pleasure rides etc.

He isn't quite "straight" behind and struggles to get much impulsion in canter but doesn't matter to me.

Best of luck x
 
I have an advanced endurance horse in my yard that did a very bad hind suspensory ligament (A hole as big as a golf ball) 12 months ago.

We went down the lines of Shock wave etc plus Plasma transfer (Blood drawn of spun down and the plasma injected into the hole) He was in a very small area in front of one of the stables (Does not do Box rest) and over about three months of expanding the area we started to walk him out first in hand then under saddle. The work was increased and in August he completed his first endurance ride (64k over the Marlborough downs) successfully.

There is no sigh of any problems.
 
Thanks for the replies. I really hope I can get my boy back to doing what he loves. He is only 10 and he lives to jump. I'm not sure he will be happy to just hack and do dressage. I want to give him the beat chance I can. He is in a restricted paddock at the moment and will be having 3 lots of shockwave. Fingers crossed.
 
mine did his right hind proximal suspensory when he was 16. He's now 24 and doing hacking and showing, but he did go back to jumping 3ft again and Medium dressage. He had shockwave, restricted paddock rest and then controlled exercise.
 
Not quite so positive I'm afraid - in fact I've just posted in NL on this same subject! Must be a lot of injuries going around!

My big boy did his the first time 5 years ago and we had a course of shockwave treatment plus 6 months box rest with restricted exercise which cumulated in 1-1 1/2 hours walking a day.

After this he did appear to have become sound and over the course of the next few months he came back into full work and eventually competed BD dressage again over a period of six months and qualified for the regionals. However, he went lame again and scans showed that the lesions in both hind ligaments were as bad as the first time and he was refered again to Sue Dyson at AHT were he had de-nerving operation.

Following the op he had 2 weeks complete box rest and then a further 7 months box rest with the walk exercise daily. He became sound again and I did about 4 months of increased exercise and started schooling again very gently with lots of steady hacking avoiding deep mud/sand etc.

Unfortunately in January 2009 he went lame again with the lesions being of frightening proportions, holes etc. I decided this time that turning him away was probably the best course of action this time and he had until the end of March 2010 off work completely. Since then he has come back into work but gentle hacking only - mostly at walk. He tells me when he wants to trot - we only do so at his instigation as he is not too lame on a straight line but if you were to ask him to trot in the school then you can really feel the unsoundness.

One of his fetlocks has dropped considerably so I've taken the decision that I will not push him in any way. I'm only relieved that I can ride him to the extent that I can and that he is very happy.

Sorry that this is not a completely positive outcome but I'm sure that if your vet is being honest with you then they will be saying that there are no guarantees of full return to work. (Unless you're very lucky and the ligaments are not too badly damaged!)
 
That's good to know. I don't think my horse has a tear or a hole, just general disruption to the ligament. I will follow the vets instructions to the letter and hope that we have such a good outcome. We only event at be90 and be100 and I'd we could get back to that I would be over the moon.
 
Chameroo I'm really sorry to hear you story. Thanks for posting it. My vets have been very clear that we may not get back to full work. They have also warned of the possible fetlock and back problems that can develop post surgery. I am going to take it one step at a time and will do what is best for him and listen to what he tells me.
I think you horse is very lucky to have such a sensitive owner who clearly does the best fir him t all times. Hats off to you.
 
Thanks Cozrin! The most important thing for me for him is to be happy! As he's the most love horse on our yard and gets the most attention I hope that I'm achieving that!

Best of luck with yours though. All you can do is listen to your vet and horse in equal measures. Vets won't have all the answers or solutions and I will keep my fingers firmly crossed for you as this is a horrid injury! I have to be honest and say that I have cried my eyes out on many occasions!

I hope that your insurance company will be as good as Petplan were for us! Also - if you are offered a second opinion, or decide to go the op route (if you need to), then I would really recommend Sue Dyson at AHT. It was no more expensive than any other veterinary hospital and the grooms and house vets were absolutely brilliant! Couldn't recommend them higher!
 
Thanks for all the advice. Luckily my local vets are Greenwood and Ellis at Newmarket and they too are fantastic.
I have already cried a fair bit so I can only imagine how you must feel.
These horses can break your heart.
 
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