Slipped Archilles Tendon

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littlebranshill

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My 13yr old mare tore all the fibres attaching the archilles tendon to the hock and the tendon has slipped to the side. It looks horrific and is very swollen & bruised. Vet says box rest for 6 months. Obviously her competition career is over and she will be just a light hack. That doesn't bother me - if I can hack her that will be fine. She is on Arnica and Rus Tox. Can anyone come up with any other some suggestions - am also looking for some positive experiences from people to cheer me up!
 
Ted was on box rest till today having done a tendon.. herr career is not necessarily over..

Best advice? box rest her and take things slow when you start off again!!!!

buy toys to keep her busy.

Lou x
 
My ex-hurdler did this whilst racing. He never raced again but came to me after he came sound again and lived a full and happy hacking life for another 14 years. It's such a shame but not the end of the world. Hope she's feeling perkier very soon.
 
My old Tb did the same thing, he was box rested for 6 months and was never more than a light hack afterwards. Vet did warn me the when they do this injury to one leg for some reason it usually happens to th other leg too. Unfortuently mine wasnt around long enoug for that to happen. It does look bad, H's leg was huge, but it did get better.
 
It is very likely that she will be sound enough to use for hacking. My horse split his DDFT and the cartilage and soft tissue behind his fetlock and it was thought he would have trouble pottering around the field. We got back to hacking and schooling. So do not give up.

I found Tendoneaze powder from Global herbs was very helpful.

Its early days yet and the swelling and bruising will settle.

I know how you are feeling, having been in a similar situation. If she gets bored like my horse did, try putting on a radio, if you use a haynet, use one inside the other to keep her occupied for longer, hide carrots etc around the stable and in her haynet to entertain her. I also found a calmer helpful.

Fingers crossed for you.

x
 
Back in 1987, my beloved mare, Sapphire, suffered this injury after galloping off with me through a deep, clay-y stretch of track - came out the other side on three legs and obviously in agony! She was box rested for eight weeks and (because she was so hyper when box rest was over and impossible to lead out in hand) then lightly ridden at a walk for I can't now remember how long. Vet warned me that as the tendon would never go back to it's original place on the hock and would now run by the side of the hock, her gait would be affected, and for ever after her toe turned in somewhat although she recovered completely (vet was very pleased with her) and went back into full work (I'm only a happy hacker though - never been competitive!). She was 17 when this happened and I lost her when she was 24 (having owned her for 22 years) but the Achilles tendon injury was never, ever a problem. Hope your horse makes a similar recovery!
 
Thank you so much for that - it gives me hope. Already she is feeling better today and the swelling has slightly started to go down. I am grazing her in a tiny paddock for an hour a day. Cold hosing it for 20 mins at least once a day and covering it in Aloe Vera several times a day (which she enjoys) - I'm lucky that she is kept at home. Will get some tendonEase as well. Also keeping up with the Arnica & Rhus Tox. Thought about getting a physio out to look at her - but is it too soon??
 
One of mine had Luxation of the Superficial Flexor on the hock many years ago, he reacted violently at first until the tendon settled permanently on the outside of the hock. The sensation of it moving frightened him. They eventually contract a little and embed on the side and when the swelling subsides you can just see a series of lumps at the side of the hock. It does not cripple them and the prognosis is good for a useful life.

My boy went on to lead a long useful life as a hack after this, although I did not push him at all, but aged 28 the tendon failed him and he struggled to get up, at which point I called it a day.

this is a good illustration http://www.asecvets.com/pdf/dimsurg/DimSurg0401.pdf Though I was told surgey did not have a good success rate and I opted not to try in light of his reaction. He was about 14 when it happened.
 
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