Suspensory Ligaments - Hind Legs

[MrsMozart]

Just found out my four year old IDxTB mare has chronic damage to both hind suspensory ligaments. She is at Newmarket with Sue Dyson, a lovely lady who has taken pains to explain the options open to me. The options are basic: to do nothing, in which case The Tig remains lame for life and is retired; or she has the op. that cuts a nerve which may return her to being a gentle hack, but she will never jump again (bought her to BSJA). As I understand it, there is a possiblity that the nerve will grow back, or that the damage will get worse and I won't know (except by regualr scanning). I've decided not to have the op. The Tig will come home and we will see how she takes to retirement: I don't yet know if she will be able to have a foal, which I think she would like as she mothers everthing in sight. We have a McTimony practioner who will come and make her comfortable, and I've been told by my vet that I can take The Tig's to shows so as brain is occupied. Has anyone else been this route? I've Googled and read, but have not found anyone who is in this particular situation.

 

[amanda123]

I have a 14yr old idx tb who injured a hind suspesory about 18 months ago, was advised that it was not operable, he was insured but was told that it was not likely to be successful in his case. iv'e had him 11 years now and he evented, did dressage and showjumped, the other hind suspensory also showed some signs of wear, he has been retired now for 18 months and he now has bursal enlargements on his hock, is it is obviously taking the strain, he looks really well and is out with another retired horse but I think he has probably come to the end of the road and will not cope with the wetter ground in the winter, he was in at night last winter. I hope you have more success with your mare. I have a friend with a horse who was operated on as a 5 year old and 18 months later he is still not sound. I am sorry not to give you a success story, i am sure there are some. I had a horse a few years ago that injured a front suspensory as a four year old and once it had healed it never troubled him again.

 

[MrsMozart]

Thank you Amanda. Will have to wait and see I guess. Sue said she hasn't seen such damage in such a young horse that hasn't been in hard work. I wish you all the best with your lad, and your friend's horse.

 

[angiebaby]

Well mine is a success story; my pony had the op on right hind last October; I gave him 6 months off and bought him back into work very slowly from May;

We started canter work last month and jumped for the first time yesterday ( only about 6 inches!!)

He is better than he has ever been, and enjoying life again at 14

 

[MrsMozart]

Lovely to hear of a success story

Very pleased and happy for you and your pone. I brought The Tig home today, she seems as happy and chilled as ever. I love this horse so much. Will await the written report.

 

[eoe]

A friend of mine had a full ID and he had the operation as a 10 year old on both back legs and was back comepting after 6 months and still is, two years on, Rossdales at Newmarked did the operation and the vet who did the operation said they do loads of them and nearly all are successful.

 

[MrsMozart]

Thank you eoe The things I hear are that there is a 70% success rate. With my horse the prognosis is 'poor': I need to read the report! But it really helps hearing about what has happened to others. Thank you.

 

[measles]

[ QUOTE ]
Well mine is a success story; my pony had the op on right hind last October; I gave him 6 months off and bought him back into work very slowly from May;

We started canter work last month and jumped for the first time yesterday ( only about 6 inches!!)

He is better than he has ever been, and enjoying life again at 14

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm really pleased to hear that things are going well after all you've been through

 

[measles]

Mrs Mozart - I'm really sorry to hear of your young mare's problems. I wasn't sure whether to post as my story isn't very positive - don't read on if you don't want to!

About 7 years ago I had a super 4yo from Ireland to event. Spring of her 5th year she started kicking my leg off in canter which was completely out of character. My vet sais she was fine but I just wans't happy so he referred her to the vet hospital who diagnosed problems in both hind suspensories. Surgery wasn't considered appropriate for both kind legs and so she had a foal and then came back into work as a hack.

We've no idea how she did it or why the problem occurred. I now insure all of mind for loss of use...

Hope it works out for you one way or another.

 

[MrsMozart]

Thank you measles. All stories help, good and not so good. Will get the report tomorrow afternoon I hope. Sue (vet) said was v surprised to see such damage in such a young horse in such light work - me taking it easy cos she young and an IDxTB (big). Not insured for loss of use... Have just lost temper with daughter, so am now proud owner of 14hh five year old cob lol Will give me something to ride and have fun on. I don't yet know what will happen with The Tig - she's damn big to be a garden ornament! Maybe a foal...

 

[siennamiller]

Hiya
My horse was diagnosed with proximal suspensory desmitis (sp?) in the middle of august. He was prescribed box rest and shockwave therapy but when we had his check up last week he had not improved at all. He had cortisone injected into both suspensories last thursday and now we are just waiting to see what happens. The vets say they are not going to be able to fix him now but may be able to make him comfortable enough to work. The vets do not think this will work, and it is very much a last ditch attempt but I have a positive feeling-we will see I guess.
Sorry for negative story (may become positive).Good luck with yours
xx

 

[angiebaby]

See, this is what I don't get!
My vets didn't offer anything but the operation,

Mine wasn't diagnosed for 5 months, so I don't see any reason why yours couldn't be operated on, unless there is another problem.

If the nerves are cut there is no pain, and the horse should be able to go back to normal work after the appropriate recovery programme.

A week at Oakham including the op and drugs, bute etc etc was around £1300, a bargain as far as I'm concerned!

 

[Hesperus]

Mine had the LH operated by Sue and the RH a year or so later at Oakham. His RH was done in Feb and he's out eventing again and doing well. I'm so glad I went with the ops.

I'm sure if Sue thinks it will work she would suggest it - she advised me well. Perhaps the damage to your pony's suspensories is different to straightforward PSD somehow? She told me I had a 70% chance of being out eventing again.

 

[Halfpass]

[ QUOTE ]
Thank you measles. All stories help, good and not so good. Will get the report tomorrow afternoon I hope. Sue (vet) said was v surprised to see such damage in such a young horse in such light work - me taking it easy cos she young and an IDxTB (big). Not insured for loss of use... Have just lost temper with daughter, so am now proud owner of 14hh five year old cob lol Will give me something to ride and have fun on. I don't yet know what will happen with The Tig - she's damn big to be a garden ornament! Maybe a foal...

[/ QUOTE ]

I know how you feel. My girl with PSD is 4 and my vet said the exact same thing. You try and do the right thing by bringing them on nice and slow and then something like this comes and bites you on the a*se!!!

 

[MrsMozart]

Thank you all for your thoughts and stories.

I got the report on Tuesday. Today is the first day I haven't cried. Tiggy's legs are too bad for an operation. She will never work again, she cannot carry a foal. Over time, months or maybe a year, she will be too bad and I'll have to say goodbye. In the meantime we will go for walks and do a bit of playing; all this will shorten the time she has with us, but she will be happier being in the thick of it.

I've been asked if I would get another horse. The answer, for now is no, not while Tiggy is here. I want to spend time with her. I have found it so hard to know that I'll never feel that power and bond again. My Ma is ill, will not recover, and it helped to get on the Tigs and ride, with no thought for anything else but the Tigs and me. Friends have been kind and there are many offers of horses to ride, which is lovely, but I can't do it for now. I rode a friend's horse on Sunday and couldn't connect at all, it just felt all wrong.

So sorry, rambling and going on again