Splints _ how long did you wait until sound

[cellie]

My horse is 5 weeks into a splint injury from kick just below the knee.Vet has been out and he said 6 to 8 weeks but he had only just recovered from one 6 weeks earlier we had a xrays and scans for earlier splint, prior to this had surgery for spavin .Ive not ridden since April I think cant remember its been so long and Im feeling really fed up .Just need something positive to keep me going.
Did you find your horse suddenly went sound or was it a gradual process.
Im walking him on lunge and for tb he is being very well behaved,it stops him having loony moments in the field.He is also in restricted paddocks.

 

[RachelB]

Do you mean a splint injury or developing what is commonly termed as "a splint"? I chucked my pony out in a field for six weeks when she developed a splint and left her to it. She was only very marginally lame in the first place and was sound as a pound when I dragged her back in to be ridden. If it's an injury then I have no idea I'm afraid. All I can say is I've been waiting to be able to ride my horse for 18 months (so far) after her tendon injury, so you have my sympathy!

 

[Caritas]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but its really how long is a piece of string!! Some are sound even when they are forming and others go on being intermittantly lame for months, can even be up to a year. you are better to give them time off straight away to let it form but even if they are sound you will make it bigger by keep working. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, although on the possitive side, he should be fine once formed, goodluck!!

 

[TayloredEq]

I have recently had a horse in for treatment in my hydrotherapy spa. He has banged his splints whilst eventing. The vet x-rayed and said that there was no damage however they were very active. The recommended treatment was box/field rest for several weeks combined with cold treatment.

The horse came to us on livery and he had an intensive course in the spa - 11 sessions over a week.

The vet looked at him again the day he returned home and he was able to start ridden work again a lot quicker than previously thought.

Obviously every horse is different, but if there is soreness there then something like a hydrotherapy spa can help to take away the pain away.

 

[cellie]

Mine did mild tendon injury last year Ive had the same amount of time off as you ,the year before it was ligament so feeling really low at the moment.He was kicked initially and the vet called it a splint injury.Any splint can be caused by concussion or trauma sounds like Ill have to just keep on being patient its being positive thats hard.Maybe another couple of weeks will make a difference.

 

[cellie]

All the swelling has gone and they are both nearly flat .They are both small once his hair has grown you wont even see them.If it persists Ill ask my vet about hydrotherapy and the inusrance company.Thanks

 

[Booboos]

Splints are such weird things, I think each one is different. I had a young horse pop a huge splint overnight, the vet could not believe it was new, but he had to, as the horse had been vetted the previous week and it definitely wasn't there then! Horse was completely sound, splint never changed, never bothered him, so I continued riding him. Weirdest thing ever!

Sorry to hear about your chap! Hang in there!

 

[Jane_Lou]

My youngster has finally come sound after 10 weeks. He was box rested with cold therapy for a week until the localised swelling had reduced, he was then turned out during the day and in and bandaged at night. It was cold and settled after 3 weeks and then he had a total hoolie in the field one day and it flared up, increased in size and he was lame again. Six weeks on it is now cold, starting to re-absorb and he will return to light work this weekend to see how it goes. There is just no hard and fast rule as to how long they will take! So eventing season now written off, traliblazers champs missed, oh well........

 

[Ahrena]

God this makes me realise how lucky I am - I have a hackey x welsh D who is very prone to them, she has 3 on each front leg and 1 on each are rather large. However she has never EVER been lame on them, I've always found them cold and hard, the vet has seen them most times and just said a couple of days off then back to work as usual...

Never realised it could take so long for them to heal.