Suspensory ligament question

Impu1sion

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 April 2013
Messages
155
Visit site
Hi all, my horse has been diagnosed as having a thickened suspensory ligament of the LH. This started with a problem in right canter, he kept breaking and then would not canter right at all. He is not lame when trotted up or when lunged in all paces, it only shows up when ridden. My vet nerve blocked the SL but it didn't make any difference, so he thinks the neurectomy/fasciotomy would be a waste of money (and he's not insured). Has anyone else been in this position who could share any advice, please?
 
Which part of the suspensory? Mine has PSD and he also had a injury to his off fore mid suspensory. I've known a few point to pointers do a branch injury and they have recovered and won races afterwards.
 
Its thickened high up near the top, vet thinks its an old injury and I should try to ride him through it. I just wondered if anyone had a horse that was not clinically lame come good again. Thanks.
 
Sounds like mid suspensory as the proximal part can't be felt. I had both front legs fully scanned and it showed a small area of irregularity, I was told to do plenty of walking, make sure he was fit enough to do whatever job I required of him, he could do any job including eventing but they advised against hunting and to be careful of ground conditions, no heavy going.

I'd had him scanned as this injury occurred in racing yard before I had him and I wasn't given any info. Scans were done at home and weren't very expensive, it may give you a better idea of what's gone on if you want to go down that route, or alternatively my vets had said bring him into work slowly and just keep an eye on it for heat / swelling.
 
Sorry, I didn't explain very well - this is a hind that I have had scanned by the vet. The suspensory ligament is thickened, but horse trots up and lunges sound. Only under saddle is he reluctant to move forward and a problem cantering on one rein. Hoping that this isn't the end of his competition career!
 
What did the vet say? Mine was on and off lame for 2 years and had shockwave treatment ( I more or less have his full history now ) he was box rested for a few months after leaving racing yard and I gave him 20 months off in the field. My ex trains a horse that had a hind suspensory injury in 2011, it has run 12 times since winning 5 p2ps, it had 6 months off in the field.
 
My rising 6 yr old has had neur/fasc and is now sound he also had prp.Is it worth getting another vet to nerve block to make sure he cant be treated.Did you have scans to pinpoint area of tear.
 
Hi Cellie, Vet just said it was thickened, nothing about any holes or tears? Yes it was scanned, I was told it was an old injury, he had 10 months off in field. Maybe this has made it tighten up? Not sure, wish he could talk!
 
If blocking the suspensory didn't improve the issue shown under saddle, then I'd be suspicious that the suspensory is a red herring, and the problem may be elsewhere.
 
I have to agree with previous poster if he had been going well with old injury and its been nerve blocked it does make you wonder if theres something else niggling.How long has he been back in work after 10 mths off ?
 
Thanks for your interesting thoughts. He's been back in work (gradually built up for 4 months). Funnily enough, I was considering having him scoped for ulcers too. The thought has crossed my mind that it could be something else - so frustrating!
 
hmmmm know that feeling just been backing mine and found out that his panic attacks riding away are because he has been backed badly.(I know this for fact now) so now I have sound horse with riding issues :(
 
Top