SI success stories?!

[{123756}]

Hi all.

As the title, someone please tell me their success stories? I have a rising 5 year old who for the past six months has been having problems. Was backed and hacked out lightly in spring. Found sever grade 4 ulcers in summer after very aggressive behaviour, had several weeks of omeprazol injections. Came right for about 3/4 weeks then got drastically uncomfortable. Went in for lameness, scoped with more ulcers and sever back pain with some hind lameness. No kissing spine but now her SI has since been injected twice, daily muscle relaxants and myoplast, weekly omeprazol again, shoeing with leather pads and due to start shockwave soon.

Its been about 6 months in total so not long but the vet is very reluctant to tell me what he thinks long term. I think its possible the SI is a secondary issue but to what, i have no idea. Im shocked she's having this many issues at such a young age and im devastated our ridden careers have been put on hold before they even start. Shes costing me an absolute fortune, even with the majority of it being covered by insurance. Please tell me your horse has come good from this??

 

[piglet2001]

I have mixed experiences I’m afraid. One horse relatively young with an unknown history. She had multiple issues and a fortune spent on her but sadly never came right. I don’t believe she had done much when I got her as she was so green and she never did much with me.

The second horse was an old horse who had worked hard all her life. She again had a few other niggles but just wear and tear. The SI injections helped keep her going another few years.

In my experience both with my own and friends horses they are great for keeping an older horse or a hard working competition horse comfortable who has proven itself to stand up to hard work. I don’t want to upset you or sound harsh but in situations like yours with a young horse with no mileage but many problems they have not worked and all have either been retired or pts.

 

[{123756}]

I have mixed experiences I’m afraid. One horse relatively young with an unknown history. She had multiple issues and a fortune spent on her but sadly never came right. I don’t believe she had done much when I got her as she was so green and she never did much with me.

The second horse was an old horse who had worked hard all her life. She again had a few other niggles but just wear and tear. The SI injections helped keep her going another few years.

In my experience both with my own and friends horses they are great for keeping an older horse or a hard working competition horse comfortable who has proven itself to stand up to hard work. I don’t want to upset you or sound harsh but in situations like yours with a young horse with no mileage but many problems they have not worked and all have either been retired or pts.

I have a very strong feeling she will not recover from this. She's not done a day's work in her life, I've had her from a yearling and made sure she regularly saw a farrier, physio and dentist. Bought her a brand new saddle as a 4yo and had it checked every 2 months but never got past a walk under saddle! I'm gutted, but I can't help but think a horse this year with progressive issues such as this won't get better with age. The vet has mentioned it's conformation however if that's the case, she'll be like this lifelong - I really don't know much about this kind of issue or the prognosis for a horse this young.

 

[Caramac71]

Our mare was very green and low mileage when we got her as a 5 year old. She did pony club stuff over the first summer and then we turned away over winter. Brought back into work in the spring and although initially she was ok, within a few weeks she was struggling in canter, bucking, kicking, generally sore and unhappy.

vet was convinced it was si but bone scan showed arthritis in her facet joints. She had til seen but prognosis was poor.
We did a slow rehab and loads of physio but she was never happy in canter.

spent the next few years either resting or trying everything possible to get sorted. Acupuncture, chiro, physio, horse whisperers, witch doctors ... ?

Finally as a last resort we got Tom Beech (The Osteopathic Vet) out and asked him if it was worth continuing or if we should just retire her. To cut a long story short, he’s pretty much fixed her. She’s been back in work for about 18 months now. We have a few blips but she’s the best now she’s ever been.
Her issues seem to be hind gut and ovaries, so spring isn’t great for her. But with regular osteo treatments, diet, supplements and the right work, she finally came good.

I wish we’d found Tom sooner, he’s not cheap but in my opinion he’s been worth every penny as he’s achieved what nobody else could.

 

[HashRouge]

We also had ulcers and SI pain (no idea if linked) in a then 10 year old and he was completely retired within two years. He did have other issues too (navicular and hock spavin) and it just became too much trying to keep in in work. Luckily he is very sound in the field (basically, just don't try and ride him!) and has a very useful job being a companion to be 27 year old Arab. Much easier to have two retirees than one!

 

[Leo Walker]

Our mare was very green and low mileage when we got her as a 5 year old. She did pony club stuff over the first summer and then we turned away over winter. Brought back into work in the spring and although initially she was ok, within a few weeks she was struggling in canter, bucking, kicking, generally sore and unhappy.

vet was convinced it was si but bone scan showed arthritis in her facet joints. She had til seen but prognosis was poor.
We did a slow rehab and loads of physio but she was never happy in canter.

spent the next few years either resting or trying everything possible to get sorted. Acupuncture, chiro, physio, horse whisperers, witch doctors ... ?

Finally as a last resort we got Tom Beech (The Osteopathic Vet) out and asked him if it was worth continuing or if we should just retire her. To cut a long story short, he’s pretty much fixed her. She’s been back in work for about 18 months now. We have a few blips but she’s the best now she’s ever been.
Her issues seem to be hind gut and ovaries, so spring isn’t great for her. But with regular osteo treatments, diet, supplements and the right work, she finally came good.

I wish we’d found Tom sooner, he’s not cheap but in my opinion he’s been worth every penny as he’s achieved what nobody else could.

I was just about to suggest Tom. Hes fixed a few who are in the last chance saloon. It will cost a couple of hundred quid, but thats a drop in the ocean if he can fix them

 

[Ambers Echo]

I've only got an unhappy story. Sorry. 5 year old lightly worked when we got him, stood up to reasonable but not huge workload over next 2 years with a 6 stone rider, began to nap and rear, SI inflammation identified on scintigraphy, injections, winter turned away, professional rehab livery, slowly being brought back into work but broke down within 3 months of slow, progressive work. Went from apparently fine to rearing over backwards overnight (with a pro on board) so we retired him. I had already contacted Tom who agreed to see him but after the rearing there did not seem any point as I was not prepared to ever put anyone on him again. He's field sounds and seems very happy but can't be ridden.