pulled check ligament = long term weakness?

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MissMincePie&Brandy

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A horse I am interested in buying pulled a check ligament just over 3 years ago. He was rested for over 6 months, then put back into work and has been sound ever since, and has done some jumping since.

How worried should I be about this? I've known several horses who have injured their tendons and all the horses I've personally known broke down again in the future after jumping was resumed.

I need a horse who will be capable (long term) of doing 45 mins to 1.5hrs a day ridden work: Usually consisting of road work 4 days a week, schooling twice a week, and a canter round the local cross country course once a week, and some dressage inbetween.

Do you think his legs with the weakened check ligament would stand up to that long term?

I already own a retired unsound horse, so am being extra cautious about my next purchase!
 
My horse has just done this – so I hope it’s not all doom and gloom!! My vet reckons that of all tendons/ligaments that can be damaged, check is one of the less major ones. I think it probably depends a lot on how bad his injury was in the first place and what he was doing when he did the injury. Personally would rather buy something will no previous injuries though – unless it was cheap!
 
Groomed for a BSJA pony who had done his check ligament so ony speaking from this experience. His hooves were quite long and the farrier said bringing him more upright lessened the stretch in his checks. He was always over at the knee to look at and prone to tripping but never went over onto his knees (thank god, had knee boots anyway) don't know if this was a pre-existing conformation problem/caused the checks to go/ or a result of them going. He was ridden daily on the road and schooled twice a week. Was still fine doing dressage, flying changes and lateral, the only slight issue was not taking him xc in heavy ground because he wouldn't be sound the next week and we were never brave enough to take him hunting. Apart from that I would say about once/twice a month he would be too lame to ride for a day just where he had been farting about in the field. Only really competed him on surfaces where he did best, never returned to his former jumping height but don't know you would want to risk it anyway. Sorry not much help but my experience.
 
I have an Arab mare that has done both her Check ligaments (6 months apart) this was 4 years ago.

She is an Advanced Endurance Horse and since doing the injuries she has returned to competition and has completed several rides including the Golden Horse Shoe (Over Exmoor a tough ride) and a race ride (100k)

Since returning she has only ever been vetted out once and that was due to a pulled muscle NOT the check ligaments. I train over hard forestry tracks and have never had a problem.

What you want to do I can not see would be a problem.
 
We had a yearling years ago that was growing so fast that the vet (very famous and international credentials) cut the check ligament to stop the foreleg from being pulled around - so it was clearly not a necessary piece of soft tissue.

We have also had a horse that did a check ligament some eighteen months ago and after six months rest aand slowly bringing back - no problem.
 
I had a 6yr old 14.2hh MW cob who damaged a check ligament on her left fore. She was out of work for 6 months, and I spent about that again bringing her back (10 mins walking in hand for weeks, 10 mins walk riding for weeks ... etc etc!).

She came back into full work, and was more than capeable of heavy work and jumping 1mtr+. She's out on loan now as a PC pony but touch wood is as sound as a pound!

I agree with the other posters in that you should be fine, just take the same precautions that you would to protect any horses legs I suppose! Good luck X
 
I think I'm feeling quite positive. Thank you. I'll have a chat with the vet too. I'm not going to be doing much jumping, and he's a very nice sort.

Also I feel confident that his owner is being very open and honest with me! There are probably not many owners who would have admitted it whilst trying to sell a horse in this climate?
 
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