Severed checK ligament

[Megan1997]

Comfort, positivity or experience needed ??

So 3 weeks ago this Friday I found my boy in the field with his front left leg swelled up like a ballon, called the vet straight away but because it was so swollen we couldn’t do an ultrasound so see what damaged he had caused. So roll on the next three weeks of hosing, bute, ice boots, and living in a 12x12 patch of grass because he just cannot be in a stable without other horses and we have finally been able to get the swelling down to where we can get a good picture of what he’s done.

Completely severed his check ligament to the point you would have thought he was born without one ? absolutely no remins left of the ligament to find, mend, treat ?

Rex has always been a hyper anxious horse but in work he’s happy and manageable he’s very talented and sensitive and always needs to keep his mind busy. He is not in anyway in pain at all, no lameness he trots on hard surface like he’s floating on clouds and he’s not on any pain medication because he thinks I’m trying to poison him every time I try to give him an apple or carrot ? and tbh he doesn’t need it.

My vet (incredible women) has said she would rather him go on light hacks 20-30 minutes of controlled exercise to keep him calm and his mind level in the field. She wants to keep in moving to stop scar tissue causing further damage and fibroids settling where his check used to be, however it just doesn’t seem right for me to get straight back on only three weeks later.

I’m just wondering if there is anyone that has had experience with a completely severed check ligament before and what the outcome (however brutally honest it is) and what they did afterwards rehab, rest, ect. he will never go anywhere and if he retires at 17 then so be it, he will be the biggest companion in north wales at 17.3h!?? I’m heartbroken this has happened but I’m trying to keep positive, if all we do again is go on walks in hand so be it but if there is anything I can do before that’s my final option I will.

 

[milliepops]

I haven't had any experience like that so replying to bump your thread.

I would be led by your vet, sometimes we have to rehab the horse in front of us rather than the one in the text book. have you got some nice quiet places to plod out with him?

 

[Rowreach]

I had one, he was an older horse but he carried on hunting for a couple of seasons and then retired to a hacking home for another couple of years.

This was about 25 years ago so my memory is hazy about time off/rehab but I remember the vet shrugging his shoulders and saying something along the lines of "well it's not there so crack on!".

This was a vet from a specialist equine practice btw.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

No experience, thankfully but I would follow the vet's advice if he is trotting up sound. I can't see what harm it will do, if it helps to keep him calm and stop scar tissue forming.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

So sorry to hear this.
I don't have experience of the type of injury you are dealing with.
But my own mare very nearly detached both her scapulars (attached by millimetres) vet said if they'd gone completely would have been a year in the box.
And most horses in her situation would have still done a good few months in the box.
But as I had still been riding her - no real symptoms except she kept taking of with me - to keep riding but in walk for a month straight lines and the gradually build the trot again in straight lines.
She came back fighting fit and done a bit of everything (including hunt) for several years. Lost her due to something completely unrelated.

I'd definitely go with your vets advice and the horse you actually see/have in front /underneath you.

Hope things go well for you x

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Comfort, positivity or experience needed ??

So 3 weeks ago this Friday I found my boy in the field with his front left leg swelled up like a ballon, called the vet straight away but because it was so swollen we couldn’t do an ultrasound so see what damaged he had caused. So roll on the next three weeks of hosing, bute, ice boots, and living in a 12x12 patch of grass because he just cannot be in a stable without other horses and we have finally been able to get the swelling down to where we can get a good picture of what he’s done.

Completely severed his check ligament to the point you would have thought he was born without one ? absolutely no remins left of the ligament to find, mend, treat ?

Rex has always been a hyper anxious horse but in work he’s happy and manageable he’s very talented and sensitive and always needs to keep his mind busy. He is not in anyway in pain at all, no lameness he trots on hard surface like he’s floating on clouds and he’s not on any pain medication because he thinks I’m trying to poison him every time I try to give him an apple or carrot ? and tbh he doesn’t need it.

My vet (incredible women) has said she would rather him go on light hacks 20-30 minutes of controlled exercise to keep him calm and his mind level in the field. She wants to keep in moving to stop scar tissue causing further damage and fibroids settling where his check used to be, however it just doesn’t seem right for me to get straight back on only three weeks later.

I’m just wondering if there is anyone that has had experience with a completely severed check ligament before and what the outcome (however brutally honest it is) and what they did afterwards rehab, rest, ect. he will never go anywhere and if he retires at 17 then so be it, he will be the biggest companion in north wales at 17.3h!?? I’m heartbroken this has happened but I’m trying to keep positive, if all we do again is go on walks in hand so be it but if there is anything I can do before that’s my final option I will.

Not severed no but my mare has only recently come through 6 months of recovery no turnout out, due to check ligament injury in October 2020, strict box for 2 weeks then snails pace in hand walking twice a day starting with 5 mins x 2 for 1 week then increasing by 7 minutes during the following weeks by 1 min a day.

I used google calendar to note down the full 6 months what we did.
The other thing I used is Pharma Horse collagen which aids recovery in tendons and ligaments. The vet was amazed at the healing each time she saw my mare. I swear it aided her no end https://www.pharmahorse.co.uk/collagen-horse.html

My Mare is now signed off her recovery as from 3 weeks ago completely healed and just finishing her rehab by not jumping yet or galloping. She is 16.1hh

Her accident was 10th October 2020 and our first on board 15 minute walking was 10th December, so would not be happy getting on my mare before the 2 months as per your vet and I would def get a second opinion, all my regime was strict as per my vet. I would be happy to share her google calendar regime if it would help.

Oh yes and my farrier put onion shoes on to help the ligament heal. https://animals.mom.com/use-onion-shoes-horses-4416.html. She is also to stay in them

 

[Goldenstar]

I have never seen a severed check ligament I have treated lots of check injuries but your vet advice seems good .
I don’t know what you do with your horse but unless you are doing a lot of jumping i think you will I all likelihood get a positive outcome .
the check is a stabilising ligament and I think it’s likely he can manage without and be painfree .
I would talk to the vet about therapeutic ultrasound or lasering and to a good Acpat physio who provides these treatments I don’t know what would be best, but you will need to stop scar tissues forming and impending the other structures .
I would buy two bonners bandages and use them religiously especially after work they are perfect for this sort of thing .

 

[Rowreach]

A severed check ligament is completely different to a damaged one. There's no reason why a horse (just like mine did) can't carry on normally without it, and it does not involve the sort of rehab that a ligament or tendon injury would.

 

[brighteyes]

I think box rest is contra indicated beyond a week or so and steady, incremental rehab is what we had to do with our 21yo pony who flings himself about under saddle. He is back to normal but it was a relatively minor strain! I am not sure what the check ligament is there for 'checking' but will that not be at risk with no restriction?

 

[cold_feet]

My horse is in recovery from check ligament damage, not completely severed. The vet explained it to me as the check ligament being between the suspensory and another (forget name) so not as major as if one of those went as it had some support. We went straight into rehab walking once swelling reduced on vet advice. Up to 5 weeks now and looking good. I’d follow the advice of your vet.

 

[Rowreach]

I think box rest is contra indicated beyond a week or so and steady, incremental rehab is what we had to do with our 21yo pony who flings himself about under saddle. He is back to normal but it was a relatively minor strain! I am not sure what the check ligament is there for 'checking' but will that not be at risk with no restriction?

They’re what stops the horse falling over when it sleeps standing up. So with one severed it’s like a trestle table with three functioning clips and one broke one.

 

[Auslander]

Not severed no but my mare has only recently come through 6 months of recovery no turnout out, due to check ligament injury in October 2020, strict box for 2 weeks then snails pace in hand walking twice a day starting with 5 mins x 2 for 1 week then increasing by 7 minutes during the following weeks by 1 min a day.

I used google calendar to note down the full 6 months what we did.
The other thing I used is Pharma Horse collagen which aids recovery in tendons and ligaments. The vet was amazed at the healing each time she saw my mare. I swear it aided her no end https://www.pharmahorse.co.uk/collagen-horse.html

My Mare is now signed off her recovery as from 3 weeks ago completely healed and just finishing her rehab by not jumping yet or galloping. She is 16.1hh

Her accident was 10th October 2020 and our first on board 15 minute walking was 10th December, so would not be happy getting on my mare before the 2 months as per your vet and I would def get a second opinion, all my regime was strict as per my vet. I would be happy to share her google calendar regime if it would help.

Oh yes and my farrier put onion shoes on to help the ligament heal. https://animals.mom.com/use-onion-shoes-horses-4416.html. She is also to stay in them

None of this is going to help this horse though - as the check ligament is completely severed - there's no ligament injury to rehab, as there's no ligament present

 

[meleeka]

No experience or advice but it sounds fascinating that he can do perfectly well without one! How the heck did he completely sever it?

 

[Rowreach]

No experience or advice but it sounds fascinating that he can do perfectly well without one! How the heck did he completely sever it?

They just go ping sometimes, and each end retracts.