Tendon damage & bandaging?

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Sophiesmum

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Our mare ruptured her superficial flexor tendon in November and had 2 months box rest. We have made the decision to not put her back into work (she is a 14yo strong, front running hunter, with minimal brakes) and she is going to be a brood mare - providing she takes.. We would like to make it as hassle free for her new home and wanted to get her to the stage where she can be turned out part of the day. She now goes out in a tiny paddock for about 6 hours a day, and is led from our other horse on road for about 20 minutes a day. Since day 1 she has had a stable bandage on when in and an exercise bandage on when out. When should we stop doing this? Her leg looks pretty clean when the bandage is taken off, but this is an artifical picture as when the bandage was left off for about 4 hours earlier this week the leg took on the classic 'bowed tendon' look. To be fair, I guess this is what I have been expecting it to look like all along, just not sure if there is still any benefit of bandaging or whether the leg should just find it's own level now IYSWIM. She has been rescanned (about a fortnight ago) and it is making good progress, would ask my vet this question but he is on holiday at the moment and I'd really like to be making firm arrangements with the stud as to when she is going.

Any advice gratefully received!
 
My only experience with this type of injury and recovery is with racehorses, which by this stage would be turned away without bandages. Yes, you an see the bowed tendon if you look for it, but it doesn't seem to do any harm as long as they get the year off or so.

I suppose the compromise would be to bandage the pair of legs when standing in, or if being exercised, and leave them off in the field and see how it goes
 
I did wonder whether we are being too cautious, we tend to do what the vet says to the t - he hadn't said stop bandaging so we haven't! My gut feeling is to leave them off at some point and see what happens! Thanks
 
Bandages are great for support, either during work or recuperation - but - it does stand to reason that when you take them off, (for any period of time) the legs will fill/puff etc. (obviously they do restrict blood flow to an extent, and any injury accelerates blood cells to the area in order to repair - whether wanted or not!)

Personally, for any tendon injury, after the vet gives the all clear to leave box rest, Id whip the bandages off, give the horse an hour or two standing in the box (to witness the extent of immediate swelling) then chuck the horse out in a decent (not deep/cloggy/clawing) pasture for the rest of the day. When you bring the horse back in, mentally compare the amount of swelling/puff (if any) coming in - with what you saw a coupla hours after the bandages came of in the first place.

You have to have some marker to work from - that way you will know if its a "good day or a bad day" - if that makes sense? -

Scotia
 
The horse should be well able to cope without bandaging by now (I hope youve been using a pair, not just one on the injured leg).
You need to do it gradually. Leave them off for a couple of hours at first, then half a day, then just put them on at night. Really this should have been done whilst still on box rest. Bandaging can alter the effect of excercise to the touch.
 
If your horse is usually quite active i would say to leave bandages etc off for the most part in the stable and if you think she is likely to carry on in the field i would put tendon boots on for some support then take them off when you bring her in.
 
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