Sidebone - how long?

[bluetrees]

My horse was diagnosed last summer with sidebone. She was off for about 6 months then I brought her back into work slowly and has been fine since January but she's gone lame again recently. I've read a lot of the old posts on here about other horses that have had sidebone and people have had various experiences - some have said rest and a short course of bute, others have turned away for a year and they came back sound.

Just a straw poll really - if you have experienced it could you just let me know roughly how long it was before the intermittent lameness stopped, the sidebone settled and your horse became sound again and what you did whilst you were waiting for all this to happen. No work, light work, hacking only. Dd you bring them back into full work afterwards or change what you did with them to try and prevent it happening again.

Thanks

 

[Jnhuk]

My now 20 year old developed side bone following a wire cut injury just above the coronet when aged 6. Initially sound with the injury although not a straightforward injury due to position. He became lame and investigation x-rays showed that his lateral cartilage had started to calcify as a result or the trauma. There was lots of discussion between vets and farrier about treatment. However he was on box rest for nearly 6 months following the injury as his hoof has to be resected then he needed remedial shoeing with a lateral extension so he couldn't be turned out. Lots of inhand grazing and luckily his 'box' of 1/3 of a cattle court kept him sane. Once his hoof had grown through this, he has been fine and no real further issues with it since but not sure how helpful this to you as his was caused by the field injury.

 

[bluetrees]

Seeing as it was caused by the injury, it's difficult to say isn't it, how much of the treatment/recovery was injury related and sidebone related. But thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

[Red-1]

Work had a big 4yo with one, did not cause a problem for many years, but in the end it was HUGE and did make him lame.

After rest (a few months)and 4 bute a day he did come back into work, but was mainly used for walking straight lines afterwards, as it would aggravate it again if he did a lot of school work or jumping.

 

[petsywetsy]

My late beloved pony had this at six years old. Was told she would only be good for breeding in a year. She spent the rest of her life until 19, showing, dressage, driving, xcountry, all very successfully! I think it really depends on the animal. I did take care when the ground was hard however.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

My boy had it but only really affected him turning right when he was lame. We used to compete a lot so he was retired to hunting which he did until he was 20. He had the odd bute but hunted at least once a week for years and it wasn't the side bone that ended things. His shoe was rasped flat on the edge which helped. He was only rested briefly when he did it then lots of walking.

 

[bluetrees]

Thanks for the replies....I think the main problem is that I already have age against me. My mare is already 17. She presented with it last summer when she was 16. She's currently 1/10 lame and has been for a few weeks. Since July last year she's been sound for about three months. I think it's only going to get worse.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Don't give up !!! 1/10 lame is nothing. If she gets no worse then carry on......very few if any horses are 100% sound at that age anyway. Avoid hard ground and ride in straight lines and build it up. If you do nothing all the rest of the changes that occur with older horses will take over. You have nothing to lose........seriously....... If she becomes worse as you ride then obviously stop. That was the advice I was given by my vet.....think positive and good luck.

 

[bluetrees]

I was ready to give up yesterday but today I changed my mind. I'm going to quit schooling and focus on hacking and see how she goes. I reAd on an old post that micronised linseed, turmeric and pepper helped another horse so I'm going to try that. I've got nothing to lose. Like you say 1/10 isn't that bad so I'm going to carry on and see how it goes. Thanks for your post ditchjumper, that reinforced the decision I made earlier