Lateral border tear of DDFT within tendon sheath

[Mickyjoe]

I am looking at my little horse having tenoscopy to determine whether this is the cause of her slight lameness and weird sudden appearance windgalls and loss of form.
She has had two workups with one of the top lameness vets in the country and all of the scans, x-rays, nerve blocks etc, but he is now leaning towards the above given that she is still lame despite serious remedial shoeing and rest. Plus the windgall has got even bigger and more firm and has a sort of double effect - hourglass shape.

It's going to be an expensive treatment - she needs a GA and he will go in via keyhole and the plan is to possibly cut the annular ligament and then if there is tearing in the DDFT, to debride those fibres and clean them off.
I've been reading up on it and the prognosis is quite guarded. She is a nice looking little mare with a massive jump, but it's hard to know what to do - she won't be suitable for hacking around as she is not a novice ride and she is really bred and designed to be a jumper.

Just wondering what to do really - I wouldn't have it on my conscience to sell her off as a hacker/equivalent because given her temperament I think she would end up passed from pillar to post. I don't want to retire her as I already have a field full of retirees and she doesn't settle when left out indefinitely. Plus she would probably beat up the retired boys if she was put out with them. Do I make the difficult decision now, or take the chance with the tenoscopy…? Either way, it's crap news. :-(

 

[acw295]

I'd give her time post op to see what the outcome is first before making any plans. Horses can surprise you too with how they adapt to a different life. I knew of a similar sounding mare to yours that had to have 1 year field rest for injury, owner was convinced she'd not settle and the first few months were very challenging - but she did eventually chill out and settle and recover well.

If she can't return to jumping then bear in mind that not everyone that hacks wants to plod around! Hacking isn't only for novices and quiet horses. I like a sharp one myself so it may be possible to rehome to a hacking home if advertised accurately and honestly.

 

[Mickyjoe]

Lol, how sharp??? What's your number? ;-)
I suppose I will just think more on it, but I've not had personal experience with rehabbing one from this particular injury and I am hoping to get some personal experiences.
From what I have read online, it looks very much like this is the injury she has and the prognosis is only 34% of a return to similar work. She was a successful show horse too, but apparently the windgall will always remain after treatment, so that sort of a quieter life is off the cards too. :-( :-(