Suspensory ligament advice needed...

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_jetset_

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As many of you know, Grace had an acute injury to the root of the suspensory in November. She was on 6 weeks of box rest, after which time she could be walked out twice a day for 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, she developed colic and underwent surgery on 16th December and finally came out on 26th December and was walked out four times a day for grass. I brought her home on 9th January, and have been taking her out for some grass for 15 minutes twice a day and then walking her for 10 minutes.

Here lies the problem... I started walking her on the lane but she was getting very silly and I was worried about her damaging herself internally. My other issue was that if she got away from me, there is a road at the bottom and also several LARGE fields she could gallop around in
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So I have been walking her in the arena. It is a sand and rubber arena surface which is very compacted and is not deep at all. I was just wondering whether anyone knew whether this would be ok on her ligament? I have tried speaking to the vet, but he is not available at the moment to have a chat with...
 
it's not as good as hard surfaces, but sometimes compromises have to be made. Dan did his recovery over winter and I worked full time so hacking out during the week was impossible - we did all our in-hand and ridden walking in an arena and he came sound.
 
Thanks... I was hoping you might see this.

I am just so worried because she has to be taken in a field for grass too following the colic surgery. So trying to get the two things right just seems a really hard task at the moment
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What is good for one thing is not good for the other...
 
I think the vets prefer hard surfaces for ligaments..one of my liveries is on month 2 of box rest having had treatment for a sarcoid that injured the ligament and the vet wont allow him in the school..he is on 20 mins now walking in hand on concrete twice a day...owner started taking him up the road to try and make it nicer for him but he got startled the other day by a bike and reared up and broke free..went off along the country lane bucking and galloping, thankfully he was stopped about half a mile later by a walker but he was totally lame the next day so please be careful if your going out beyond the yard..had to go back to total BR for a week and is now starting walking out again, needless to say only round our yard drive and car park so at least if he gets free he will be safe (my grass and lawns wont be though!!)..hes gotta have a chifney as well I think as hes 16.1 shire xID.
 
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I think the vets prefer hard surfaces for ligaments.

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we do, but sometimes needs must and a good school can be better than a horse bouncing up and down down a concrete drive and potentially getting loose.
 
i know they have called the vet and he is adamant that they must stay on the hard ground but i think its worse as today he was bucking and leaping around which cant be good for the injury ..they are really worried as he has potentially another 2 months of confinement...any tips!!!
 
I cannot risk her escaping because she is only four weeks into her recovery from colic surgery... if she escaped I hate to think what she could potentially do to herself!!!

In the arena tonight she was quiet as a lamb. Not one naughty moment, just chilled out and wandering around behind me. Our arena is really compacted sand and rubber, regually rolled and when she steps in it, it goes to just over her shoe line. There are no deep areas in it, and it does not move at all.
 
I think you have to think about the consequences. If pulling away from you on the road could potentially risk her life then dont do it. But if she hoolies in the school she could injure her suspensory ligament. Not ideal but surely the lesser risk.

I walked my mare up and down the yard rather than taking her out on the road. Is this an option?

PS She did get bored and started to bite me after a while!!!
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Like star my horse had to walked in hand during the winter and worked full time so had no option other than to use the school except at the weekends when I took him on the road. He recovered fine.
 
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