suspensory ligament

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Moon Dancer

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I am not sure if my horse has damaged his suspensory ligament or not but want to be prepared just in case. He has slight heat in his leg just below the knee and is slightly puffy. he is completely sound in a straight line but didnt look right on the lunge on the left rein (is the left fore) wasnt lame, just not right and was only the odd few steps every now and again. had physio out for back check anyway and she said was in right place for suspensory ligament and to see how he is on sunday.
If still not right get vet out monday to scan etc. if he has damaged this ligament and the damage is this mild what is the prognosis and what should i be doing in the mean time?

thanks for reading!!
 
Hiya, my horse did similar sounding injury back in November, was his check ligament. If it is a suspensory, in the initial stages you need to reduce the inflamtion as much as poss - so cold hosing/bandaging etc. and keep him on box rest until your vets been to check it out. Then he/she will probably recomend a period of box rest combined with walking out in hand and then bringing back into work slowly until he is back in full work. Lenth of this depending on how severe the injury is.

Doesn't sound like it's too bad - similar to my horse's. I kept him in for 3 weeks then turned him out, he's pretty much back in full work now but I haven't galloped/jumped him yet (although he's had a few mad episodes in the field) and all is looking good so far. :)

So baiscally, if it is a suspensory you're probably looking at around 3 months best case, worst case 6 month - a year.

Good luck!! x
 
My old boy tweaked his front suspensory jumping grids at PC camp.Box rest, walking out in hand on the road and slow return to work. I also removed his shoes as I am sure it was caused by poor foot balance. A year later he returned to camp unshod and jumped everything grids included. Good luck
 
It sounds like a check ligament.

What ever, even though he is sound I would not lunge until I knew what it was you could make it worse.

In the mean time I would cold hose twice a day and bandage.

One of mine did a check ligament and was never lame, just the swelling below the knee.
 
Yes - mine wasn't lame at all.. just swelling for about 48 hours that's it! He's got a tiny tiny hard bump and that's all he has to show for it. It's REALLY frustrating!!
 
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