Tendon Bowed - any good news?

MrsMozart

MrsMozart

Just passing through...
Joined
27 June 2008
Messages
41,712
Location
Not where I should be...
Visit site
TB. Four years old. Ex-race horse.

Bowed tendon in foreleg.

He's been out of racing and resting since about March time this year. He's now with Friend. He was stabled, but was turning into a bit of a fruit loop, so on vets advice he went into a paddock with a friend, and then into a field.

He's been in the field a few days now, with a couple of nights in for rest (he was kn*ckered poor lad). Came in today and his leg with the tendon issue is filling
frown.gif
He does not appear lame, or if he is it's about 1/10. He does not object to having the leg touched. The vet is due to scan again in two weeks time. Vet isn't too concerned, but Friend is concerned.

This horse is gorgeous and we've all fallen for him big time
smile.gif
. His paces in the field are to die for.

I'm hoping someone can tell me that it is likely to be okay...

Hot choccies for all who got to the end, and sprinkles and cream for those that answer (positive news gets choccie biccies
grin.gif
).
 
is it worth trying magnetic boots may help to take swelling down - helps my mare.
also there is clivers (herb) you can feed to help puffy legs

if not sore or lame should be ok
smile.gif
 
I don't know cos I have never known one, does that mean I only get plain hot choc?
frown.gif


I havent had one of yours with all the trimmings in aaaggeesss
frown.gif
frown.gif
 
Mrs M
smirk.gif
put the veterinary books back and step aside.
You have enough with little/larger problems without taking on another lame/waif or stray, you can only have so many before we will be recognising you as a rescue centre.

You know it makes sense!!
grin.gif


Will I get dog poo sandwiches for bad news instead of nice choccy biscuits?
shocked.gif
 
Eh, you're a bad lot you are
cool.gif
.

Okay, on the grounds that I have no brain and cannot remember who and what and when never mind when, everyone can have a hot choccy with all the trimmings AND choccie biccies.

Harrumph.

Can't help it MrsW - this lad is gorgeous
smile.gif
. Friend knew there might be an issue re the tendon, but if you met him, you'd know why she went for him (I'd have had him if she hadn't
grin.gif
).

Not been the poorly tendon route before, so it's all new to us. I'm hoping that as he isn't hopping on it then it's just the unaccustemed exercise that's causing the filling/swelling.

Nailed - you get all the above, and a hug just for being you
smile.gif
 
i had a 6 yo ex race horse who had a bowed tendon but remained sound in light work for six months (after 8 months field rest) but one day suddenly became dog lame the vet said he had torn suspensory tendons and was unlikely to ever become sound again and recomended he was pts
frown.gif
. i hope your story has a happier ending but it is an indication of weakness in the tendon
 
N1, so sorry to hear that
frown.gif
. Hugs hunny.

I lost my last horse to chronic suspensory ligament damage, but I'm assuming that is different to yours - ligaments rather than tendons.

I'm hoping that Friend and horse get some good times together before anything drastic happens if it ever does. Also trying to be realistic, but it may well be like asking how long is a piece of string.
 
My mare has a bowed tendon has had it for years, she was pushed to jump big when she couldnt, so i was told. anyway it was a back person that came to see her back n told me to use camphor on her leg, its illegal for competing i think. but it greats on hers, even though hers is very old its gone down a treat. the best bit is where i found the camphor, tiger balm!
also use magnetic stuff but only recently! if hes gorg go for it
grin.gif
 
One of my boys has a bowed tendon, he raced for 8 years both flat and hurdles and has been blistered. He retired from racing due to refusing to race! He wouldn't leave start! He has got a mind of his own! LOL! But didn't retire due to tendon.

He's always worked in tendon boots and make sure we don't do heavy/fast work on hard ground but other than that no probs! Occassionally get some heat in in, generally coz he's been a loon in field but I put some leg cooler gel on n it's back to normal by the morning!
 
My opinion USE to be that a bowed tendon WAS bad news, until.... my eventer friend bought an ex-racer for £300 with a bowed tendon. She intended to produce and event it. I 'thought' she was nuts, the horse wouldn't be any good for riding, let alone become an eventer! I was WRONG!
tongue.gif


After a years field rest, plenty of cold hosing, ice packs, cooling gels etc... his tendon shrinked back! It isn't bowed anymore, just appears slightly thicker.
wink.gif
oh yeah, he also had n.e.w. fleece xc boots, she use to soak them in freezing cold water and put them on him too!
grin.gif


She has started eventing him this year, finished the season at Pre-Novice level. His tendon has held out **touch wood* and she has not had one problem ever since the initial injury from his racing career!
grin.gif


Against the odds, against what Vets say, she has proved everyone wrong, including meeeeee! So don't give up xx
grin.gif
 
I looked after a 4 year old arab that broke down on the race track, 3 months box rest, turned out - promptly got colic and had surgery at Rossdales.

With the tendon, plus colic, plus subsequent foal (I'd bought her by then) she had about 2 years off.

I had her until she was 17, she had a horrible looking bowed tendon, but she did endurance and hunted for years, plus had three more foals, never sick, sorry or lame until she was crippled in the field by another horse. I think that given time to recover, slowly and at grass preferably, many can recover and go on for years, it all depends on the original injury I guess.
 
have you thought about hydrotherapy for him? I have worked with horses providing this for a few years and have had good results with bowed tendons. Either the fixed spas or the game ready equine machine would help reduce the swelling and could speed up the healing process. I hope it all works out he does sound lovely :-)
 
If he has had a sudden increase in movement it is usual for the leg to puff up a bit, it is part of the process of it settling down completely. As the vet is not worried I would be inclined to think it is this, rather than swelling actually on the tendon (there is a big difference).
Whenever your friend has a small setback like this, drop him back (ie into the smaller paddock) until it all setttles again.
 
I purchased my TB at 12 years with a bowed tendon from a hireling yard- hunted him until he was 26 and never had lameness from it ( it was his cr*p flat TB feet that with no heels gave the problems..)
 
Ted should get the hot chocolate, Realiseing all the stuff he learnt me!

Peeps have got a point, youve more than enough neds with probs to worry about. But Im not goign to preaching about it, for the simple fact I was told not to have Ted because he was TB/Exracer/broke/lymphangitis and i put two finger up, and Gave a horse a happy three years, and a dignified end.

So screw what people say, If you want the TB then have him! And Ill come see him!!

Lou x
 
We took on a 19 yo TB who had broken down NH racing many years before but had been treated and returned to racing (raced a couple of times after I think). His tendons are in a word b*ggered! They were fired so not sure if this helped.

Anyway, his previous owner hacked him and also jumped and x-countried him without problems. We did ride him when we got him and he was/is fine to jump (loves it) and even di a show cross. Our vet likes to let any students have a good feel when they come so they can see what bowed tendons are like - his are soo prominent!

We actually found, since we had him, being turned out 24/7 has really helped his tendons harden and they are not as puffy as they were. Also walking on roads helps to harden them up. He has (stupid horse he is) got his leg/shoe caught in sheep wire and in the process of pulling it out his leg was HUGE - we thought he'd really done it this time thinking his tendosn can't be string enough to take that abuse but no, he was fine and wasn't even lame! he's 25 now and still going strong.

Being a young horse I think it could be ok. Plenty of rest then steady exercise (leading in hand on roads is good) and the suggestion of hydrotherapy is a very good idea as results from this are quite promising.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top