Suspensory Damage - What Are The Chances Of Full Recovery?

heatherxbella

heatherxbella

Active Member
Joined
27 January 2011
Messages
38
Location
Essex
Visit site
Okay, so yesterday my Gypsy Cob was absolutely fine and this morning she is virtually hopping lame! Her leg around her cannon area is swollen quite considerably compared to the other. I had the vet out to her and he said he's hoping it's just a strain but he said it could also be a check ligament or a splint, but more than likely where it is he said it seems it could be her suspensory ligament. But we won't know for sure until Wednesday as he will be scanning her to see if it is that. So to prepare myself for the foreseeable future I would like to know about peoples experiences and what a horses chances are of full recovery. Am really worried as don't want to lose her!

Many thanks x
 
I had a horse that tore a suspensory ligament in a front leg. He did make a full recovery but it was about 6 months box rest and then the rehab of walking out in hand etc. It was a bit of a stressful time. Horse was fine during the rest as I made sure he had tactile company in the form of his shetland pony companion. Its just the walking out that is frightening!!!
 
Mine did both hind suspensories & annular ligaments quite badly. She had 12months off, mainly on box rest & towards the end turnout in a tiny paddock the size of 2 stables. Lots of in-hand walks, bandaging, cold hosing, dmso, ultrasound, shockwave & cartrophen courses later she got the all clear. My vet said she'd have passed any vetting & was fit to compete again, but as she was late teens from the point of view of having her sound as long as possible it was better to take it easy. So bigger courses, xc & hunting aren't on. In theory the vet was happy for her to sj, but agreed given she's 14.2 the flatwork has to be spot on for big courses. 3' unaffil is the most she does now, still ok for the odd individual 3'3 spread at home but no more. Dressage ok for novice, but again, anything mores a strain. Bits of more advanced work are fine at home, but prolonged training to compete at higher levels is too much. Likewise she'd be fine to hunt at the back carefully & avoid big stuff, but that's not what she enjoys. So really she has made a good recovery, now 23 she's still able to do the same stuff most ponies do. And still able to go vertical when she plays in the field. Fingers crossed for your girl, hopefully its not as serious as mine was.
 
Mine had a partial tear of a front suspensory, he made a full recovery within 6 months, box rest to start then field rest for the last few months. He was only ever hopping lame on a circle, he was only moderately lame in a straight line when he first did it.
Good luck with yours, hope she makes a full recovery and is a good girl while you are nursing her! x
 
That sounds good. She did bolt with me yesterday morning on a hack so it may only just be a strain - hopefully!! She's only 11 and has a lot of potential for dressage but what will be will be and I'm all for her making a full recovery even if it means i won't be able to ride her again. Will know more by wednesday as that is when she is having her scan done.
 
My mare damaged a back suspensory some years ago, however she never went very lame, just slightly 'off'. She had a few months off, some box rest and some turn out in a small paddock and then was walked, building up the time every week and was basically slowly taken back into work over months and was rescanned a few times and it showed to be well healed. If I remember rightly she was back in full work (jumping, dressage, etc.) about a year after the injury. We have (touch wood!) never had another issue with the leg. (However she has strained a front tendon since but we don't think there is any connection to the old injury). So there's my horses positive suspensory story. I hope it is something more simple but try not to get too worried before Wednesday :) Also we were very careful with her after the injury, making our warm ups and cool downs much longer than most and being careful what ground she was jumped on. Due to her front tendon injury we never got to event to the level we were hoping to but she did some 90cm & 1m unaffiliated eventing after the injury and some novice level dressage in lessons and it never presented a problem.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top