Q"uestion for those of you who have turned horses away

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teasle

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to recover from lameness, how long for, to give the horse a chance to comesound, and when would you think that the horse would always be lame and give up?
 
I've recently posted this...
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=477192

He went lame in November 2009, boxrested until August 2010 and been on individual turnout until last weekend when I decided he was sound enough to go back into a field with other horses. But I wouldn't say he's now sound as a pound but he's comfortable, happy and able to enjoy his retirement.
 
After spending 3000 pounds ( I am insured) on investigations, including an mri the cause of my horses lameness is still not known.
 
i think the old wives tale is that you should cut off the tail and turn them away, when its grown back, you bring them back into work...
not sure its the most scientific method...!
 
Mine had a DDFT tear and cartilage damage, I gave her 10 months and she was still lame. Brought her back into work VERY slowly, walked and trotted for about a year and then turned her away for a winter again. She came properly sound after about three or four months of work. She goes a bit "dodgy" every now and again if she tweaks her leg, but *touch wood* never anything big and she now has every winter pretty much off and every summer is brought back into work very slowly and carefully.

I find it's best to play it by ear - for example, she's lame again now but on the other foot. Been like that for three weeks. I'm taking it week by week at the moment, but another three weeks and she's off until March. I don't faff with her - I give her a month or two and if there's no improvement, I leave it until the next conveniet point (which is next spring as we can't ride in winter). If she hadn't come mostly sound after a month or two after the initial 18 months, I would have given her until the next spring. Then I'd just keep trying every month or two until winter again.

It's just whatever works - suck it and see.

Although I appreciate a lot of people can't give a horse unlimited chances! I'd give it 18 months initially, if I had to.
 
My horse was turned out in may after three months box rest.he turned out 2/10 lame in walk on one bute a day I was told he would never get any sounder. He is currently well almost sound and on half a bute every other day. He has a suspected ddft hole over his navicular bursa and damage from infection. Must admit its a small miracle he is still here!! We couldn't afford the MRI after the antibiotics etc so we didn't know how much damage was there. You can only try and turn the horse out and see what happens every horse is different and only you will know if there is any improvement it's worth a try!!
 
My big hairy cob was given a year off for a suspected pulled ligament (had x-rays / nerve blocks but no further investigation as not insured). 3 months box rest proved too much for his brain, so just turned him out in the field with his mates.
Went sound(ish) after 10 months, gave him another 2 months to fully recover.
Brought slowly back into work over another 2 months & is now able to take me out hacking including galloping for up to 2 hours. Been riding him again now for about 3 years.
Would not say he is 100%, not lame but stiff - would definately fail a vetting, but gets no worse with exercise & seems to really enjoy himself - loves a good race with his friends. Can do a lovely walk & trot dressage test, but unable to canter in the school as he cant manage to bend and canter at the same time. - he is 21 now though.
 
I turned away my 16.2hh KWPN after 3 months boxrest (no improvement) for DDFT and check ligament injury. Shoes off. She came back into full work 11 months later fully sound and stayed sound (this was 4 years ago).
 
I believed that she would get better!
I also had a retired gelding at the time ... so erm ... I might have treated myself to a new, ridable horse!
 
Did your oh notice the possible third horse? And how did you manage to ride 2 when your horse came sound and care for 3?
 
tb with navicular, bone spavins and KS. Has been out of work for a year. Is now looking sound in the field and i am dying to get back on him! But i cannot untill i have some easyboot glove hoof boots for him to wear. I bought myself another horse to ride whilst he wasnt in work, he briefly came back into work last october and i did alot of riding and leading to make things easier through the winter.
 
Rest!! My TBXconnemara went lame and was diagnosed with hind suspensory desmitis, she was operated on at Newmarket, still not right so I just turned her out for over a year. Had her older sister to ride in the meantime though! She appeared sound after this but due the nature of her original lameness didn't want to risk jumping her again so she is with a friend for hacking and has been hacking sound for the past nearly 2 years. Hopefully yours will respond to some time off, it's worth a try anyway!
 
Thanks for all your replies . So it seems not uncomon to give a horse 18 months to see if the horse will come sound. I originally thought a year,but I really want to give this horse a chance. I only wish that i knew what was wrong .
 
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