Tendon injury - also posted in vets but thought more may read here

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Finns

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My horse has had a tendon sheath infection and was operated on. He has been on box rest for several months (obv very closely monitored by vet) and has been slowly been allowed out - we are now doing 35 mins walk twice a day (being ridden) and 30 mins walking in hand. However he's 2/10 lame. Vet says this is due to shortening of the tendon (caused due to op and box rest). He tends to rest the leg a lot. I have tried to encourage him to walk around his stable by giving him a nut ball and spreading his hay around the stable, and he's now allowed out in a pen to graze for 30 mins, but it makes no difference. He has massage every 6 weeks and chiro treatment every 6 weeks to try to correct what he's dong by resting his leg. Vet is out regularly to see how he is doing. Has anyone had any experience of this kind of thing and any suggestions? Is it possible to lengthen tendons? All the things I've seen on the internet seem to talk about shortening tendons! Our vets are fab, but I just wanted to pick anyone's brains to see if there's anything we're missing.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
my old mare cut through her tendon sheath and got a terrible infection so was on box rest for a long, long time. The thing that really helped her was turn out, I really had to take a big risk by doing it but just standing on it all day was killing her mentally and phusically and riding her wasn't practical to begin with as she was a touch on the crazy side at the best of times. After a couple of weeks out during the day she was like a different horse.
How long have you been walking out? I would've thought it would take quite some time to lengthen the tendon if it is possible so it may just be a case of major patience and a lot of frustration. Although your vet may be a tad on the scepticle side of this, could you put your horse on restricted turn out all day, maybe a long narrow field with water at the opposite end to the best grass to make him walk about on it more?
How does he react to his 30mins out? are their people about the yard all day who could keep an eye on him in case of mad moments?
 
Been walking out in hand for about 4 months, since the op but obviously been increasing it as he recovered. We were walking out in hand 3 times a day - now we're riding him twice a day and one walk out in hand and the 30 mins in a pen. He has been a saint to ride (3 spooks) and has behaved impeccably in turnout.

I think your idea re turning out more may be just the ticket, especially now leg has strengthened a bit. Will speak to vet just to check in advance but yard has happily agreed to find him a narrow patch in one of the fields, so I will get hunting for electric fencing. People on yard all day, who I trust absolutely and know they will bring him in asap if he has a mad moment (so far it has consisted of one buck after he rolls!).

What was the result for your mare in the end?

Any other suggestions very much welcomed, I just want to make his life as good as possible!
 
Once she was out the improvement was rapid and she never onced suffered a days lameness from it in all types of ground. It swelled up sometimes in the stable, but other than that you'd never have known.
Her infection was vast and the vets thought we would lose her, or at the very least she would be permanently unsound. Turning out was a last resort and was against my vets advice but she hadn't had the ground work your boy has had, I just took a deep breath and let go. She went mental but no damage was done and My only regret was that I didn't do it sooner!
Good luck and let us know how you go. X
 
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