Kissing spines 25 days after ligament resection

cptrayes

cptrayes

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My horse had six kissing spines separated by cutting the ligaments between them 25 days ago today. How do you think he's doing? I'm pretty thrilled myself. He's overtracking in walk with a clear 12 inches between the two hoofprints. He's straighter in front than he has ever been before, and he's got his beautiful bouncing trot back too. :o Only two and a half weeks to go before we find out what he's like to ride. Fingers crossed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-YaXJiZWlE&feature=youtu.be
 
Wow! I dont know what he looked like before, but WOW! Stunning, he looks so straight, beautiful movement, you must be so thrilled! Fabulous horse!!
 
jessieblue said:
Wow! I dont know what he looked like before, but WOW! Stunning, he looks so straight, beautiful movement, you must be so thrilled! Fabulous horse!!
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I'm biased, but I do think hrs lovely, thank you:) . He was bred to move like that, daddy is a grand prix dressage horse, but he's been going worse and worse as I train him, not better. We found the kissing spines in July, steroids only worked for three weeks, so he has had the new,ligament resection operation instead of the old way of cutting off spinal processes.

Fingers crossed he lets me sit on him!
 
He's only seven. This is his last chance because he is now unrideable unless he's on four Bute a day :( He was OK until the steroid/anaesthetic injections took away the pain, and then when it came back after three weeks he can't bear to move, though he grits his teeth to let me get on, then freezes. Looking at how much difference this has made to how he moves, I'm very hopeful it's cured him.
 
Thank you. I'm counting the days to putting a saddle on, October 8th, and then getting in it, October 15th. Cross everything those days please :)
 
Gryfiss said:
thats brilliant, just being nosey who's he by ?
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Riccione. Renowned for throwing stock with lovely temperaments and very trainable, which is why we bought him. It's been a real puzzle how difficult he's been in competition environments. Hopefully it was just the additional stress of competing making the kissing spines unbearable for him.

I am stunned at the rapid success of the operation, and the incredible difference in front leg action which was completely unexpected. Here's a video of his last dressage test to compare his action, check the right fore in particular. Watch on a minute or so and you'll see how his back affected him. He didn't do that at home, only when competing. The judge for that competition told me 'he needs a man on him' He didn't, of course, just someone who would find out what his problem was.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?sns=em&v=vNZw6Uy_-DQ&desktop_uri=/watch?v=vNZw6Uy_-DQ&sns=em
 
Gosh cptrayes, what a difference!! We should be getting on our horses at about the same time - though it will have been 11 months since I sat on paddy, although I am looking forward to it, I'm also ever so slightly nervous!!
The main things I have noticed is that paddy can roll right over (never did this before the op) he's over tracking in walk, he's more chilled out (was previously quite highly strung, and though he never displayed any classic KS type behaviour, i wonder if he was experiencing low grade pain) and he can now buck better & higher than before!!
 
Nervous? Tell me about it :D. I have a lightweight man my own size lined up if I lose my bottle. I don't want to spoil all this progress by upsetting him with my nerves.

I'll be thinking of you mid October.
 
I'll have an air jacket on with my brave pants. I feel the same, I really want it to be me too. You've got the double whammy of a lameness rehab too, haven't you? You've really got no idea how Paddy will feel to ride at all ! Let's update this thread when we've done it.
 
Yes, paddy went lame in november last year and hasn't been ridden since! Hopefully it's all been worth it - he was 6/10 lame, now he's sound trotted up on hard surface, I don't lunge his that much because of his feet so have been long reining him in a chambon or side reins and he's been surprisingly good! And at last I can see a difference in his topline. I have noticed that his stride has lengthened, and am hoping that he will feel different when I am on him.
Yes we will have to do an update!
 
Looking very promising Cptrayes. :) We have a mare here just recently diagnosed with KS. She has just had her back medicated and we are waiting 2 weeks to be able to get back on her (another week to go now). I expect that if here is an improvement and if it wears off after a time, which it normally does, that we will go the ligament resection route with her. She has had gastric ulcers too, on and off, but I have a feeling that this may have been a reaction to the pain. Her behaviour is very similar to your boy's. Good luck with your stunning lad, and please keep us posted.
 
Wagtail said:
Looking very promising Cptrayes. :) We have a mare here just recently diagnosed with KS. She has just had her back medicated and we are waiting 2 weeks to be able to get back on her (another week to go now). I expect that if here is an improvement and if it wears off after a time, which it normally does, that we will go the ligament resection route with her. She has had gastric ulcers too, on and off, but I have a feeling that this may have been a reaction to the pain. Her behaviour is very similar to your boy's. Good luck with your stunning lad, and please keep us posted.
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Same here Wagtail, he's had ulcer meds twice this year and is just ending the second lot now.

I was told only two days off after injections into his back. They only worked for three weeks, but in any case the result was so clear that I already had the operation booked.

If you need a recommendation, the surgeon is a freelance, Graham Monroe.

I have been told that 60% of the horses being treated at Cotts, where they pioneered this operation, have associated SI and/or PSD issues, which reduce the chances of the operation resolving the horse's issues. Hopefully, the injections will enable you to tell whether the mare does, as they did with mine.
 
cptrayes said:
Same here Wagtail, he's had ulcer meds twice this year and is just ending the second lot now.

I was told only two days off after injections into his back. They only worked for three weeks, but in any case the result was so clear that I already had the operation booked.

If you need a recommendation, the surgeon is a freelance, Graham Monroe.

I have been told that 60% of the horses being treated at Cotts, where they pioneered this operation, have associated SI and/or PSD issues, which reduce the chances of the operation resolving the horse's issues. Hopefully, the injections will enable you to tell whether the mare does, as they did with mine.
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Weird how different vets say different things about when to ride after the injections. And a bit worrying if they don't last very long in any case! I think we will try her out after ten days rather than two weeks. I really hope there's a big improvement because otherwise we are at a loss with this mare, which would be such a shame as she is by Orlando (Heartbreaker/Darco lines) and has just too much talent to waste. :( Not that she minds. I think she was happier having foals.
 
Another milestone successfully passed. The saddle is on with no issues at all :o. The tail swishing he was doing when the girth went on before the operation has stopped. I'm now going to lead him out with the saddle on for thirteen days, then ride on October 15th, six weeks to the day.
 
Hi just wanted to post quickly, I watched the competition video and it was like watching my little horse pre op without the graceful movement, his favourite move was all 4 legs suspended in the air! He had Svend Kold operate to remove a little bone 7 years ago and I wanted to let you know that he has gone from a horse recommended PTS re behavioural issues to a very characterful poppet who is still ridden 5days a week 7yrs on and does a bit of everything because the op was such a success and we took his rehab slowly but surely. I decided it had to be me to get back on first time because I was the one he felt safe with and knew the best, but I got a friend to follow me around the school on the ground with a packet of polos which he was very happy to eat. He didn't bat an eyelid and I am sure it will be the same for you, if he is moving well on the ground without a fuss and he didn't worry about the saddle I suspect he will be just fine! Just wanted to wish you good luck and I think it is so wonderful how much the operation has moved on and how brilliantly the horses are now doing. One up for an understanding owner who listens properly to their horse - all crossed for you.
 
Brilliant to read. Do any of you belong to the Facebook group?
My lad was operated on last October and is doing fine except he has lost all confidence hacking. This is where the symptoms were blindingly obvious and he appears to have PTSD or something similar so we are working hard to rebuild his confidence ( and mine).
 
Cptrayes, you must be thrilled, I am sure that starting riding will go just as smoothly - I am starting long reining with the saddle on Friday & the vet is due to come out on the 15th for a pre getting on him check :)

Flibble - yes I belong to the Facebook group - Emma with Paddy of the wonky feet and back!!
 
Flibble said:
Brilliant to read. Do any of you belong to the Facebook group?
My lad was operated on last October and is doing fine except he has lost all confidence hacking. This is where the symptoms were blindingly obvious and he appears to have PTSD or something similar so we are working hard to rebuild his confidence ( and mine).
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Mine's the opposite, better on hacks than on circles. I plan to reback him on the road because of it. Like yours, I am concerned that he will never now be cured of spooking at dressage letters, but he is so glorious to ride at home that I will simply give up competing if so.

I hope yours continues to improve.
 
Busybusybusy said:
Cptrayes, you must be thrilled, I am sure that starting riding will go just as smoothly - I am starting long reining with the saddle on Friday & the vet is due to come out on the 15th for a pre getting on him check :)

Flibble - yes I belong to the Facebook group - Emma with Paddy of the wonky feet and back!!
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I'm trying so hard to stay calm! It will be so devastating if he still can't be ridden ....


I'm old,I don't 'do' Facebook. :)
 
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