Maiden update - good news and bad news

[RachelB]

I have just got back from a meeting with my new vet (long story about old vet, basically was very unhelpful and didn't want to bother treating my horse with a torn deep digital flexor tendon as there is only a slim chance of recovery, vet has always been useless and I've wanted to change for ages so this gave me the final shove).
Ok, firstly the bad news:
It's not only a tear in the DDFT we have to worry about (which, at 2cm, is pretty bad in itself), but the MRI found possible adhesions in the area where the DDFT inserts onto the pedal bone. This is a bad complication as if adhesions do form (fibres that attach very strongly between the tendon and the bone and don't allow a normal range of flexion) then she'll be permanently lame, and if they form and then tear they could re-form "more aggressively" and then she'll be very lame permanently. However the vet who did the MRI was totally undecided as to whether it was cartilage erosion or adhesion formation. New vet gave me two options, 1) surgical intervention to see whether it actually was adhesions and to cut the fibres and tidy the area up (which is dangerous as it may irritate the area and make it worse, plus it's a hard area to get to inside the hoof, plus it involves the risk of general anaesthesia); or 2) medical intervention with cartrophen injections and/or shockwave therapy. After a long discussion we opted for the injections and lots and lots of rest, we don't really feel the risk of permanently laming our horse by surgery is worth it and we'd rather give it a go medically and if she doesn't come right then that's that.
The second bit of bad news was that not only will we never ever be allowed to jump her again, it's unlikely to be advisable that she ever does dressage again. If she ever comes sound she will literally be a hackabout, allowed to potter around the lanes and woods and no more in case of re-injury. So that's my dressage pony dream gone (although she is only really built for prelim anyway!) and if she comes sound we'll have to put her on loan to someone who wants a confidence-giving happy hacker.
So anyway the good news is that we now have hope, and a plan. Although I will never have my horse back, the new vet was happy once she'd given us our options and we'd talked through and decided, to give us a proper plan of action (last vet told us to do what we wanted as nothing would work anyway). So she's having these injections once a week for four injections, and I have to stop walking her in-hand and instead turn her out in a two-stable-sized pen all day every day. Sedation and electrified fencing are highly recommended! Then after the last injection she's being turned away for nine months minimum, not to be removed from the field so she's not being caught and released making her liable to run around. So I now have three weeks to find her a new home! This is perfect timing though as in three weeks my exams will have finished, so I can then start riding my new horse (details soon to be released!) and everything will be fine and dandy!
Don't get me wrong I am devastated that I'll only ever be able to hack Maiden again, but I have to look on the bright side or I'll break down completely. I have another horse I can ride, which means I can give Maiden as much time as she needs to recover, and I also have a vet who is willing to give her a chance. So really this is a semi-happy post! I just hope she keeps her head screwed on tomorrow when I turn her out!

 

[Alibear]

I know exactly what you mean about good news and bad news and I am please you now have a vet who is investigating things properly for you and you have a plan of action.
Hope the rehab goes well and the injections do the trick.

 

[brightmount]

That sounds an excellent plan. Kinder to the horse too than total box rest followed by an explosion. I would have opted for the injections too. It sounds like you have realistic expectations and once that happens and you have a definite plan it's easier to deal with these stressful circumstances that horses have a habit of throwing at you.

What location are you looking at for field rest?

 

[Tempi]

I hope everything works out for you both hun.....

Field wise like i said Chris has space for live out mares, so if you are stuck i would contact her. We also have a free stable at the moment too.

 

[RachelB]

P_G when you say "live out mares" are they out permanently or in and out to be ridden etc.? Our main concern is that Maiden will either be left alone as all the others are being ridden, or that one will come into the field and run around/ Maiden will run around when the other horse leaves. Chris's place would be ideal though as I doubt there's anywhere in my village we could keep her and it isn't too far to go over there every day! We have a few phone numbers to call now though, will be finding out what is about and whether people are willing to have an extra horse somewhere else. It's also just hit me that that is it, I won't be taking her back to my current yard as it would be silly to pay that price for a school and everything only to be able to hack. So a bit sad now!

 

[RachelB]

We're looking around the Salisbury area, preferably east of Salisbury where we are but if all else fails then it will be south Wiltshire/ west Hampshire area, anywhere we can find!

 

[Fairynuff]

Im pleased that things dont look so black anymore! Its great that youve found a vet who seems to care and has given her a chance to at least lead a quiet life hacking around. It must be a huge weight off your shoulders. Give Maiden a hug from me

. Mairi.
PS, did you see my friend Annemarie at the clinic?

 

[RachelB]

Thanks Mairi! I didn't really see anyone at O'Gormans, I was a bit miffed as I just turned up, dumped her in a stable and left - no passport checking, no forms to sign... was the same when we picked her up. A bit strange but there you go!

 

[puddicat]

It sounds to me as if your first vet was giving you very sound and practical advice. I think it illustrates an interesting dilemma for the profession in that "there is nothing worth doing" is increasing seen as an unacceptible outcome in a soceity like ours. There are always tretments that can be tried but the benefit is often debatable. Sure the vet has to believe it is not an unreasonable course of action and communicate the likehood and degree of improvement. But there is a moral issue with regard to how great the likelihood and degree of improvement have to be before a line of treatment is worth pursuing. So you say now you have hope - really from where ? How I interpret what you have reported is that the prognosis is no better than that offered by your original vet. Surely the only difference is that something is happening rather than nothing and although the horse might not benefit, the owner certainly does. It's frequently said that 'treating' the owner is as much part of being a vet as treating the animals and I don't doubt it. Perhaps the only sin your "useless" previous vet committed was to tell you it as it is rather that to tell you it as you wanted to hear it ?

 

[Bossanova]

Glad you have a plan to work to now.
How about Francis's place in the village, they've got plenty of grazing and a few live out up there, plus she's got the broodmare who may need a companion I think. Would be closer for you than Alderbury Farm anyway

 

[Pidge]

At least you have something to go on now. Must be a relief after all this time. Here's hoping you can find somewhere nice to turn her away for