Pedal Bone Rotated - Chances of competing again...?!?

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123leah

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My horse is 9 years old and I have been competing with her (dressage) for 2 years now. However she got an abcess in her left front foot which meant box rest for a while. Whilst this problem was occuring we noticed she couldnt put weight on her right front foot, the vet came out and after x-rays she confirmed that the pedal bone had rotated. After two weeks and having a heart bar put on she is recovering well and the x-rays are showing that the bone is moving back.

Has anybody had experience of this and what is the recovery time? I know every horse is different but will she be able to compete again? Im worried it may happen again or it may bring on other problems.

Thanks in advance for any feedback
 
My 15.2hh Irish mare had fat laminitis with mild rotation in both fronts a couple of years ago. She had quite flat feet too. I gave her 6 months off and touch wood she has been fine since. Including a 10 mile pleasure ride on stony tracks a year later. I hack her out normally, including sensible trotting on the roads and hope to hunt her this season. It sounds as though your girl is recovering quite quickly so the chances of recovery should be good.
 
123leah said:
My horse is 9 years old and I have been competing with her (dressage) for 2 years now. However she got an abcess in her left front foot which meant box rest for a while. Whilst this problem was occuring we noticed she couldnt put weight on her right front foot, the vet came out and after x-rays she confirmed that the pedal bone had rotated. After two weeks and having a heart bar put on she is recovering well and the x-rays are showing that the bone is moving back.

Has anybody had experience of this and what is the recovery time? I know every horse is different but will she be able to compete again? Im worried it may happen again or it may bring on other problems.

Thanks in advance for any feedback
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Is it assumed that the rotation is from overload while shifting weight of the sore LF?

Prognosis really does link to how much rotation there is e.g. 3 degrees vs 15 degrees? The more rotation the more guarded the prognosis for higher levels of work.

If the farriery is already showing benefits though, stick with it and make sure your farrier is really fussy about the shoeing. Get it right and if you can keep the soundness ok, then the prognosis will be improved.

TBH though, the only people that will know the prognosis estimation are those looking at the horse and xrays together.

Keep plugging on though,
Best of luck
Imogen
 
My 14.2 had laminitis from cushings. The x ray showed the tip of the pedal bone was virtually pressing on the sole - he eventually came sound enough to jump on a soft surface, but he could never go without shoes as he found it too painful barefoot.

We were always very careful with him on stony surfaces and limited his hacking as a precaution. I can post a pic of his x ray later if that helps - not got time to upload it now as going to much out :)
 
I'd recommend looking at Jaime Jackson's book 'Founder: Its prevention and cure'. There is also good stuff on the net, for example http://www.barefoothorse.com/barefoot_Founder.html.
My understanding is that in laminitis, the pedal bone rotates away from the hoof capsule because the laminae break down. It's impossible to rotate the pedal bone back to it's original position by forcing it, but healing happens as a new hoof grows down the pedal bone in line with its new position. If you can support that, then there would be no reason why the horse shouldn't be sound once the full foot has grown in, with a healthy tight laminar attachement.
My mare had laminitis earlier this year after an operation. Although on x-ray she showed no rotation, her 'new' foot has grown in at a considerably steeper angle than the 'old' foot. I rehabbed her barefoot (she has been barefoot for the last 10 years anyway) and she did really well - she is now back in work and doesn't seem to have any problems. I hope she will be back to competing next year.
 
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