Hock ligament injury...experience/prognosis please!!

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muddipony

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Ok, so my horse came in lame from the field, and i had the vet out, and he said that the cause of the lameness is the ligament that runs over the point of hock getting dislodged! It is literally knocked off to the side slightly. The vet said that with a few weeks rest, he may be able to return to ridden work, or he may not!! :eek:
Vet said no real treatment, apart from possible operation, but no real guarantee with that either and risk of further complications!

Anyone had experience of this injury? Good and/or bad please, my vet really didn't seem to want to give me any indication either way so i feel a bit helpless :(
 
Is it the ligament or tendon?. My horse did this to his tendon 2 years ago and is now retired because of it.

The initial optimistic prognosis was sadly wrong.

It is apparently a rare injury.
 
I used to look after a horse that had had this injury - the tendon had completely come off the hock and ran down towards the inside of the leg. He was off work for about 6 months while things settled down, but then he resumed his usual career and I used to SJ and hunt him. He was sound, but his action was slightly strange, he used to twist the hoof as he moved, causing extra wear on that shoe. Other than that he was fine. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
 
Re my last post OP, it might have been the ligament rather than the tendon that came off the hock. It was the same injury suffered by Mark Phillip's Columbus many years ago. Sorry I can't be of more help.
 
Looking at a book on anatomy i think it is the Superficial Digital Flexor tendon. To be honest, i was quite upset when the vet was there yesterday so I don't think I took in a lot of what he said!

I just cannot believe it!!

Did Columbus return to work?

He does have a funny twisting movement on that leg.

Can i do any exercises to help support him?
 
I had a mare that done this, she was bought for SJ and dressage and they said box rest and gradually bring her into light work then he could see no reason why she wouldn't be fine to continue with a least dressage. He did say she would always be macanically lame :( he also advised turnout with something really quiet or on her own as another knoj there could be devestating.
The yard I was on could not accommodate this so I moved and she was doing great, I had a vets letter to state for any show classes why she had a strange gait was not through pain related lameness. The yard I moved her to guaranteed me individual turnout and showed me the paddock, two weeks in and staff turned her out in main feild :( she got a kick in her bad hock.
Vet said she needed to be retired she was only 5 although vet said with her breeding temp and conformation I coul consider her as a broodmare. I sold her to a lady I used to work for there vet agreed broodmare would be fine so last I heard she was enjoying life as a mother :)
 
ETA it not the end of the road with this injury just gotta be extra careful with the hock and if you compete dressage or anything carry letter to show the lameness Is macanically (sp)
Good luck with your horse
 
If you have H&H for 17th November 2011 they have an article about it - I know because my horse was in that article :(
 
Thanku guys, I will order a back issue of h & h to read it. He is a lovely chap so i'm hoping for a happy ending, he's not the sort who would retire well, he's only 5 and full of beans! My vet has said to keep him turned out, and prescribed bute to get him over the initial pain, then reassess in 6wks.
 
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