EquestrianFairy
Well-Known Member
Are there any?
Ringbone Success stories?
- Thread starter EquestrianFairy
- Start date
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
Depends on what you mean by success. Cairo was very unsound on 4 bute a day after being x-rayed and low ringbone being found - very common in old heavy horses. We were initially very worried as stopping work in the these heavy old boys means loss of muscle and they don't get up.
He has magnetic straps, is fed cortaflex and instant linseed and is sound enough to to do light work. He is hacked out - though we only walk on very hard ground. On soft surfaces, he canters, trots, has the odd gallop and a few small jumps - which he really enjoys. He is also off bute. We do a little schooling but avoid small circles. He is worked four days a week - 20 mins loose schooling, 30 mins ridden schooling or a gentle hack up to 1 - 1/2 hours.
His days of competing at dressage, XC and SJ are over, but to be honest he was getting to the age when we were starting to slow things down - he was 19 when the problems started.
He is occasionally pottery on hard ground, is barefoot but if the ground goes hard in summer has fronts on to "rock" his weight. It is now two years later and the vet has put him as 1 - 2/10s lame on the right rein and 1/10 on the occasional step on the left rein - this is good enough for me and his workload.
So yes a success in that he is with us, in light work to stop the muscle wastage and not on bute, but not a success if we wanted to do more with him - he is basically a very large pet to us, which he always has been.
He has magnetic straps, is fed cortaflex and instant linseed and is sound enough to to do light work. He is hacked out - though we only walk on very hard ground. On soft surfaces, he canters, trots, has the odd gallop and a few small jumps - which he really enjoys. He is also off bute. We do a little schooling but avoid small circles. He is worked four days a week - 20 mins loose schooling, 30 mins ridden schooling or a gentle hack up to 1 - 1/2 hours.
His days of competing at dressage, XC and SJ are over, but to be honest he was getting to the age when we were starting to slow things down - he was 19 when the problems started.
He is occasionally pottery on hard ground, is barefoot but if the ground goes hard in summer has fronts on to "rock" his weight. It is now two years later and the vet has put him as 1 - 2/10s lame on the right rein and 1/10 on the occasional step on the left rein - this is good enough for me and his workload.
So yes a success in that he is with us, in light work to stop the muscle wastage and not on bute, but not a success if we wanted to do more with him - he is basically a very large pet to us, which he always has been.
EquestrianFairy
Well-Known Member
Hmm, maybe there is hope yet then!
My mare was diagnosed with ringbone in front pasterns and arthritis in one hock.. its been a year and shes been off work (had a suprise foal!) and aside from her current thrush problem has been sound wihout any bute.
My vet said time is a great healer and there are possibilites of her being able to be ridden again properly but im dubious as the heartache of it suddenly going wrong will be hard.
Perhaps IF we get a summer here, once her thrush is cleared i will see what shes like. She is my dream pony, everything ive ever wanted and more- there is no comparision to her.. and shes 'broken' as far as insurance is concerned. Not fair!
My mare was diagnosed with ringbone in front pasterns and arthritis in one hock.. its been a year and shes been off work (had a suprise foal!) and aside from her current thrush problem has been sound wihout any bute.
My vet said time is a great healer and there are possibilites of her being able to be ridden again properly but im dubious as the heartache of it suddenly going wrong will be hard.
Perhaps IF we get a summer here, once her thrush is cleared i will see what shes like. She is my dream pony, everything ive ever wanted and more- there is no comparision to her.. and shes 'broken' as far as insurance is concerned. Not fair!
EquestrianFairy
Well-Known Member
Please anymore success stories-keep them coming its lovely to read them.
_daisy_
Well-Known Member
my mare was diagnosed with ringbone in her coffin joints and then in her fetlocks. She was retired and after 2 1/2yrs in retirement is now starting her riding career again. I think the major turning point in her life was going barefoot.
Louby
Well-Known Member
Sadly my old mare wasnt a success story but doesnt it depend on if its high or low ringbone, Im sure I remember the vet telling me high ringbone is worse. They can fuse as well which is supposed to stop the pain.
Good luck
Good luck
herbert
Well-Known Member
My British Champion mule got ringbone and had to be retired at the age of 10. I was devasted as she was unique. She is now lame mostly all of the time but is still enjoying life in her new home where she is loved and cared for better than most.
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
Yes low ringbone is not as bad as the joints will normally fuse eventually - this is what I think has happened with Cairo as he has improved with time.
I found the shoes coming off really helped - he also has never had thrush since going barefoot, which he used to suffer from constantly.
I found the shoes coming off really helped - he also has never had thrush since going barefoot, which he used to suffer from constantly.
emmecam
Active Member
What about neurectomy? Has anybody had it for ringbone?
EquestrianFairy
Well-Known Member
no, whats that maria77?
Shes already barefoot.
Shes already barefoot.
exracemad
Well-Known Member
My friends ex-racer. (Typical big built Jump horse) was recently diagnosed with ringbone after going lame on and of for a while. It was very advanced and also had artheritus. He had about 2 months of and corrective shoeing. And is now on walking out and small trot.
lucemoose
Well-Known Member
My last horse was diagnosed with ringbone the summer I had him on loan whilst his owner went travelling- eeek! I noticed it as I could feel something in his canter as he wasnt willing to jump as much as usual. This was June time. I called a equine osteopath as I thought the problem was in his shoulder but then was refered back to the vet who could only see lameness on hard ground when lunged in a tight circle. Xrays were taken, front shoes off and he went onto bute and synequin. The xrays were conclusive- vet said Morse was lame as it was forming abit and to rest him for a while. He had a month or so off over the July/Aug period which was great as the ground was too hard anyway, then I took it slowly with him. I was lucky in that I was on a yard that had a horsewalker for fitness, a water complex so I could stand him in it (help his hooves too- he started wearing wide web shoes to spread concussion) and that the show rings were kept watered so I could work on grass. He came back to peak fitness quite quickly, and I had so many comments on him as he looked amazing, he came back better than before and I had the best month with him before my friend took him back. Hes now a happy hacker not due to the ringbone/sidebone but because of commitments. I know when I was crying at the vet that success stories are helpful!
TheresaW
Well-Known Member
Mac was diagnosed with low ringbone in his near fore and arthritis in his fetlock last year. He has since been diagnosed with OCD and Arthritis in both hocks. He now lives out 24/7 to keep him as mobile as possible, and is hacked out daily. So far (touch wood) he has been totally sound since being turned out. When he was stabled, he would be really stiff first thing and would take about 15/20 minutes to walk it off. He is on a glucosamine supplement and instant linseed. If we want to take him on a sponsored ride (vets have said he is fine to do them) he has bute for 2 days before and 2 days after.
emmecam
Active Member
My horse has high ringbone. He has had corticosteroids injected in his joint. The vet told me if this would not work another solution would be cut the nervs so he will not feel the pain.
kirstyhen
Well-Known Member
My horse has been diagnosed with high non articular ringbone in his right hind for nearly a year now, as hes a big boy with upright pasterns its not suprising! He was injected with corticol steriods and has been on varying joint supplements. He does everything that he did prior to diagnoses just not on hard ground! Has hunted, evented and show jumped all with great success since treatment.
Have found that shoeing helps keep him sound, and that if his toe is kept short to improve breakover he moves far better.
He has good days and occasional days that it bothers him, but rest helps and on some days hes unstoppable!
I was told that he would either return to his normal work or have to be retired, however i was also told there was lots of options before we went down that road.
I know how devestated I was when he went lame, hed never had a day off work from injury or illness since I bought him, found that knowing what was wrong was a relief.
Have found that shoeing helps keep him sound, and that if his toe is kept short to improve breakover he moves far better.
He has good days and occasional days that it bothers him, but rest helps and on some days hes unstoppable!
I was told that he would either return to his normal work or have to be retired, however i was also told there was lots of options before we went down that road.
I know how devestated I was when he went lame, hed never had a day off work from injury or illness since I bought him, found that knowing what was wrong was a relief.