Suspensory Ligament Damage

[ponylady767]

Hi all
Just wondering if any one has had any experience with suspensory ligament damage. I have a six year old Welsh section d that has shockingly just been diagnosed with this. He has been broken in gently and had two years gentle schooling and hacking with a little bit of light jumping.
He has had intermittent lameness for quite a few months but always rode through and seem to get better it was if he was stiff. Had vets out on numerous occasions but just didn't seem right.
He eventually went into vets to have nerves blocked and this is where we are now at.

How could this have happened?? He has only been worked lightly, does any one have any experience of this?? Is there life after SLD?

Also can a horse that has SLD ever jump again or is there to much risk of damage??

Feeling devastated as only done the best for my boy don't understand how this happened..

 

[Pinkvboots]

It depends on the extent of the damage have they scanned the leg to see how bad it is?

my horse damaged his hind suspensor last year he was 11 and only hacked and schooled I don't jump, he basically had a hole in the upper part, my vet advised irap as a treatment and 4 months box rest but he did say it may not work, we re scanned him after 4 months and the vet was amazed how good it looked and he was sound so I was told to start riding and his been fine, I walk on any deep Un even ground and I don't school for more than about 20 minutes at one time, I have no idea how he did it as I never do fast work on deep ground or do really fast work so maybe he did it being an idiot in the field who knows.

 

[NaeNae87]

My horse's race career ended due to a suspensory injury. He is now an eventer. Sure, only low levels but he has never had any problems as a result of that injury.

My vet had been consulted and has advised accordingly. She sees him regularly and is happy with how he is going.

 

[asbo]

My boy damaged both when he was hunted, he had a year off, came sound, did 2 years hacking/schooling/ jumping then re did both of them in the field. He is 24 this year and has been retired for 7 years now.

 

[ycbm]

Is it more than one leg? Given his age and the little you say he has done, I would take a look on Google at DSLD/ESPA. I've delayed posting this for a couple of days on case it scares you, but I had a friend with one and I've decided is better to know early. I hope it's just a mild, normal strain. I've had one myself with a branch strain and she was absolutely fine after six months rest.

 

[Hannahgb]

My 5 year old has just had surgery on his hinds. I dont agree with the neurectomy but isntead went for the desmoplasty. Again, we have no idea how he did it, hes been worked lightly and carefully. Its gutting, but fingers crossed with some time out, they can come back.

 

[Lanky Loll]

One of mine did his being a complete wazzock in the field - it doesn't have to be anything YOU do. He had 6 months off, and was brought back into work slowly, back jumping within a year.

 

[Birker2020]

You might like to consider PRP. Here is a link: http://www.prptreatments.org/veterinary/suspensory-ligament-injuries/

I had PRP for my horse when he did sprained his suspensory branch. It worked really well and he went back to SJ at 90cm - 1.05m for about 18 months to 2 years before hurting his leg in an accident at the yard. We went back to square one with the leg. I am currently treating another suspensory branch injury, this time caused by a twisted horse shoe!

I would advise you to buy the ice vibe boots. The ICE-VIBE boots are rechargeable vibrating boots that help to boost circulation in horse's legs by creating a massage effect. They combine the effects off cooling and massage therapy to effectively treat strains, ligament and tendon damage. The massage effect helps to stimulate the lymph system to remove soreness and swelling as well as improving circulation. Everyday wear and tear on joints can be managed with daily use of the boots and rehabilitation through injury can be achieved more effectively.

Using the boots before you ride can assist you to prepare your horses legs for exercise in the stable. After exercise you can use the vibrating boots with the inner cold packs creating cold circulation. They assist your horse to repair wear and tear whilst in the stable or out in the field, both before and after exercise.

I use them religously and they are fantastic for rehab.

 

[The_highland_pony]

Hello x my experience with this is bad I'm afraid. My highland pony was diagnosed with SLD last year. I only jumped him now and again and we have no idea how it happened. The vet nerve blocked it and shock waved it which backfired as it set off his laminitis and then he was box rested for six weeks on bute and was ok. So we started hacking him out on the flat at walk. He started to improve and the vet was very pleased. He was then allowed to go out in the field. When we bought him back in he was worse. He's now having a week off and we will walk him out to see how he is. Then he will be put in a flat field for 6 months for a chance of healing and if that doesn't work he will be put down.

I really hope your horse gets better and you don't have to go through what I am xx I'm sure he will be fine just keep him away from steep hills as that is what I believe did this to my horse xx good luck

 

[Victoria25]

My TB was diagnosed with this in Jan 2015 following a bout of lympingitus the following year. She was xrayed and she had damaged her rear suspensory branch (from infection rather than shock injury).
She was on box rest for about 2/3 months where she could only walk around her barn whilst I was mucking out.
I then created an area for her (about the size of 6 stables) for another 6-8 weeks for her to go into for about an hour per day (with me watching her).
She was x-rayed every 2-3 months.
The vet then recommended daily walking – starting with 10 mins working up to 30 mins – we did this for a short period as it got a bit dangerous – as you can imagine she had turned into a nutter by this time but on the plus side the xrays were showing excellent progression.
Then after about 7 months she was turned out into her own field with my other horse only during the day for a week weeks then that turned into 24/7 turnout.
After about 8/9 months I started to take her out riding – walking only and then about 11 months slowly trotting small periods.
Its now been 15 months and she’s ready to go back into the ‘big field’ although I keep delaying it …!!

 

[Wundahorse]

Our ISH has recently injured his SL and bruised his tendon. Vet says most of these injuries are sustained in poached paddocks and recommends harrowing and rolling on a regular basis ,where possible. He is being treated with Ice Vibe boot and compagel and is on box rest but with regular walking.

 

[Birker2020]

Our ISH has recently injured his SL and bruised his tendon. Vet says most of these injuries are sustained in poached paddocks and recommends harrowing and rolling on a regular basis ,where possible. He is being treated with Ice Vibe boot and compagel and is on box rest but with regular walking.

Much as it is a not 'natural' I really do think that the sand paddock that ours are turned out in during the winter has helped my horse so much with his injury. I can't imagine going back to mud, mud, mud in the winter again. He will get his chance out at grass in the next couple of weeks hopefully when the weather is better and it is not so wet and can stay out for eight hours a day. Then in five months back in on the sandpit again for two hours a day. It is a compromise that wouldn't suit many, but I think he is happy enough and it gives his suspensory branch sprain a chance a really good chance to heal.