Just devastated :(

Keep in mind that your YO, vet and probably insurance might stand in the no way on earth camp when it comes to Rockley, that doesn't mean it isn't a viable option. Do your own research once you've got all the facts.
 
So sorry to hear this. Sometimes time is a great healer - something that a lot of vets don't always seem to consider.
 
eggs said:
So sorry to hear this. Sometimes time is a great healer - something that a lot of vets don't always seem to consider.
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Agreed. I just worry whether it's fair to keep a highly strung 5yo cooped up in a stable for 3 months on box rest, particularly when she's in a fair bit of pain.
 
FestiveFuzz said:
Does anyone know a ballpark figure for how much it costs to send a horse to Rockley?
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I remember a year or so ago reading it was around the £150 per week mark which compared with normal full livery rates is very reasonable, it may have gone up but it is not unrealistic for 8 weeks if the horse comes back sound.
 
be positive said:
I remember a year or so ago reading it was around the £150 per week mark which compared with normal full livery rates is very reasonable, it may have gone up but it is not unrealistic for 8 weeks if the horse comes back sound.
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That's less than I pay for livery if that is the case so could easily fund myself if needs be. Thanks Be Positive, feeling a glimmer of potential hope now.
 
It is worth considering, although not something you may wish to that if the pain is not manageable euthanasia may be kinder than long term intermittent lameness and being not quite right.
 
SusieT said:
It is worth considering, although not something you may wish to that if the pain is not manageable euthanasia may be kinder than long term intermittent lameness and being not quite right.
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Trust me, if it's what's advised it'll be the route we go down as her comfort and wellbeing is paramount.
 
when you speak to the vet again its worth finding out if the long toe low heel is what they consider to be a conformation fault or if there is anything else they picked up on. well worth trying to get the vet to agree to refer to rockley as its very possible that if they can get the foot right the reduced pressure on the tendon could allow her to do dressage as long as you do plenty of hacking rather than a lot of arena work. jumping may be a no but I doubt that will be worrying you. also worth asking about the actual injury and how the tendon is damaged as in is the tear resulting in a hole in the tendon or exactly what and where is the damage. write down your questions and his answers as although the initial shock of the diagnosis will have worn off you will obviously still be upset and will easily forget something when you are in conversation. I do hope something can be done and she is repairable to a better level than first t hought
 
crabbymare said:
when you speak to the vet again its worth finding out if the long toe low heel is what they consider to be a conformation fault or if there is anything else they picked up on. well worth trying to get the vet to agree to refer to rockley as its very possible that if they can get the foot right the reduced pressure on the tendon could allow her to do dressage as long as you do plenty of hacking rather than a lot of arena work. jumping may be a no but I doubt that will be worrying you. also worth asking about the actual injury and how the tendon is damaged as in is the tear resulting in a hole in the tendon or exactly what and where is the damage. write down your questions and his answers as although the initial shock of the diagnosis will have worn off you will obviously still be upset and will easily forget something when you are in conversation. I do hope something can be done and she is repairable to a better level than first t hought
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Thanks so much Crabbymare, this is exactly what I need right now. Clearly OH felt the same as he's just handed me his list of Poppy questions he wants answered by the vet which I'll be adding to. I think the initial shock is wearing off now thank god as it'll mean I can be a lot more practical and hopefully get a better grasp of what exactly is going on.
 
Red-1 said:
I am so sorry this has happened to you. We were both looking at the same time, I watched your search with interest. I was so happy when you found a horse you were happy with.

I have fingers and toes crossed that there *may* be a *fault* but that your horse is indeed suffering from hooli-ing round the field, and will settle with time.

(((((Hugs)))))
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I second this!
 
I am so sorry, you must feel rotten. My mare had a bowed tendon after a stumble a fortnight ago. Homebred, left to mature and going nicely with dressage comps lined up. Fortunately scan showed no damage.

Another one of my ponies did both foreleg tendons at the same time and the prognosis wasn't great and I was told that I probably won't ride him at a fast pace again. He took 10 months to come right, then went onto compete SJ, HT and colt hunting.

I hope that your horse isn't as bad as you fear.
 
Nothing to add really but would just like to say I am really sorry to read your post, you must be totally devastated. I hope she comes right, remember vets tend to give you the worst case scenario.
 
I'm so sorry FF.
I do have a similar idea to how you feel but mine has better prognosis I think. I had mine scanned as she blew up over her flexor tendon that scanned fine but vet scanned whole leg as they should and discovered bilateral damage to suspensories.
I have learnt a lot over past few weeks and would say foot development has an awful lot to do with it and I'm now considering having atleast her back shoes removed. I have also spent a rather large amount on specific rehab at a place near me.
Depending on the type of damage if it's a hole not a tear then I would recommend PRP to fill it and also do consider an arcequine- my mare rescanned at 4 weeks post injections and I'd used the arcequine and her scan was impressive- one of the best the vets seen and showing fibres in line rather than random- she is back next week for another scan now she has started rehab!
Feel free to PM me if you need to
Hope you get more answers today!
 
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If your mare is landing toe first, this is what has put the excessive strain on the tendons. The poor heel/long toe conformation causes toe first landing, but can be reversed, and she can grow better feet.

Once she is landing on her heels, the stress on the soft tissues of the lower legs are greatly reduced and normalised.

If it was my horse I'd be taking the shoes off, get her to Rockley by all means, but it can be done at home too. Then lots of walking, in boots to begin with, once she is sound enough.

This will give the tendon time to heal (with stem cells, or PRP, shockwave, whatever) and by the time it has healed, the feet will be able to do their job of shock absorbtion properly.

Good luck you must be totally gutted, but I think you can get your mare over this.
 
The reason I ask where it is because is because you are saying she has swelling higher up so I am wondering if the issue is higher up, in which case the conformation issue might not be anything to do with feet and rockley etc might not be the answer and I'm not sure why the vet would have gone straight for the foot with a horse with swelling higher up?

http://rockleyfarm.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=+ultrasound

the key point in why ultrasound wasn't carried forwards for monitoring rehabs is this
'but to get a clear image the frog needs to be pared until it is relatively thin.'
 
Quick update...following YCBM's suggestion of ESPA on my vet thread I spent the night reading up on the condition and sadly a lot of the symptoms tally with Poppy. I've spoken to my vet this morning and he agrees so we are now looking at a nuchal ligament biopsy to either confirm or rule it out. I feel sick to my stomach at the possibility of her never recovering but right now I just want to know what we're dealing with.
 
FestiveFuzz said:
Quick update...following YCBM's suggestion of ESPA on my vet thread I spent the night reading up on the condition and sadly a lot of the symptoms tally with Poppy. I've spoken to my vet this morning and he agrees so we are now looking at a nuchal ligament biopsy to either confirm or rule it out. I feel sick to my stomach at the possibility of her never recovering but right now I just want to know what we're dealing with.
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I am so sorry. I will spend the days hoping to goodness I'm wrong this time :(
 
So sorry to hear this, it's devastating when your dreams are dashed as I learnt with my top horse a few years ago. Hoping things work out as well as possible for you and your girl
 
omg that is such bad luck I am so sorry she is such a beautiful horse:(

my mare damaged her ddft in the back of the pastern area and her tendon sheath swelled up as a result, I did look into this in great length at the time and I was under the impression when the damage is in the foot the prognosis is guarded, unfortunately I tried to get my horse sound for 2 years she would be okay for a few months then break down again, this was 4 years ago now so they may have better procedures in place for a better recovery I would definitely look into the barefoot route and I will keep fingers crossed for you both x
 
ycbm said:
I am so sorry. I will spend the days hoping to goodness I'm wrong this time :(
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In honesty I'm glad you put it on my radar as even my vet wasn't aware of the biopsy process at Liverpool. But I'll take any famous HHO vibes we can get right now.
 
Thanks for all the kind words. It's so hard to put into words how I'm feeling right now. Pops was meant to be the horse that finally helped me achieve my dressage aspirations. We've only had a few weeks of lessons but I could already see glimmers of how great we could be together.

She is the sweetest little horse I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Even yesterday when I knew how much pain she'd be in she was still her usual inquisitive and cuddly self. The fact the rest of the yard were just as gutted as me yesterday is testament to just how wonderful this little mare is. It seems cruel and unfair to have finally found the one only to be left with facing the worst possible decision a month later.

I'm hoping and praying for a miracle, a mistake, anything that means I don't lose her when I've only just found her. It seems crazy that I can be so upset about a horse that's only been in my life a month but she's made such an impact, even my OH was in tears last night.

Here's hoping the biopsy won't confirm my worst fears but in the meantime I'm just going to snuggle her close and let her know just how loved she is.
 
Really sorry to hear this. I hope the worst outcome is not reality. Fingers crossed for you.

I am not sure if this might be helpful as it was posted 3 years ago but maybe contact the researcher if it's ddft. http://www.rossdales.com/news/new-stem-cell-trial-to-treat-deep-digital-flexor-tendon-injury.htm
 
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FestiveFuzz said:
Thanks all. Have spoken to the vet at length now and in his words she has the worst possible tear in the worst possible place, with the other leg showing signs of mineralisation and wear, so much so that he feels it's only a matter of time until we face the same problem as the left leg (incidentally it's her fronts not her backs as I thought I'd heard when speaking with my YO over the phone).

More concerning is how she's got so much damage given how little mileage she has. I'm now questioning whether there was another reason for her having been turned away so soon after breaking last summer, but right now all my energy is being put into making sure I do right by Pops.

She's currently in a lot of pain, which we're giving medication for and will be rescanned next week before any decisions are made.

It just breaks my heart to see her this way. Especially when just last week we were planning her first competition.
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So very sorry to read this. x
 
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