Tendon Injury

[Mildlander]

Hi I'm a long time lurker who has finally taken the plunge to become a member.
I'm looking for advice/experiences of other members of tendon injury.
I have a 9 year old overgrown Connemara gelding (15.2) who has managed to partially tear his superficial flexor tendon on the near hind. The tear is within the tendon sheath just to complicate matters. He did it playing in the field - don't we just love our horses!
He did this 4 weeks ago. He has been on box rest since then, with icing, cold hose, bandage at night etc. 2 weeks ago he had a Hyaluronic acid injection into the tendon sheath.
The vet has advised that there's a 50:50 chance of him coming back to do the type of work that he was before, which is RC, jumping to 90cm, dressage currently prelim but would like to do Novice when ready, hacking etc and only a 60:40 chance of even being a happy hacker - which is not really his style. Currently looking at another 2 weeks box rest then reassessment.
What I am finding difficult to find is the time span for these injuries, I know every case is different, but would be interested in anyone else experience, how long before your horse started to come sound, did they stay sound, did you turn away and if so for how long, etc ?
I'm posting this in both Veterinary and Tack Room to glean the most experiences.
Many thanks in anticipation

 

[Maesfen]

Time is the best thing you can give your boy to give him the chance to repair fully.
I've known others do this and turned away properly (out 24/7 none of this just a few hours turnout) for long enough, they have always come sound and been able to resume work. Very carefully at the start, you'd need to give double time to get fit for example, no rushing, months of walking out before even thinking of going in a school and so on.

I would look at eighteen months out to be on the safe side. Some will say that's too long but they not only have to become sound again, they also have to strengthen that soundness up and they can't do that in work.
In other words, more haste less speed or repent at leisure because, as sure as eggs are eggs, if you hurry recovery in any way, you will regret it.

 

[Tyssandi]

Hi I'm a long time lurker who has finally taken the plunge to become a member.
I'm looking for advice/experiences of other members of tendon injury.
I have a 9 year old overgrown Connemara gelding (15.2) who has managed to partially tear his superficial flexor tendon on the near hind. The tear is within the tendon sheath just to complicate matters. He did it playing in the field - don't we just love our horses!
He did this 4 weeks ago. He has been on box rest since then, with icing, cold hose, bandage at night etc. 2 weeks ago he had a Hyaluronic acid injection into the tendon sheath.
The vet has advised that there's a 50:50 chance of him coming back to do the type of work that he was before, which is RC, jumping to 90cm, dressage currently prelim but would like to do Novice when ready, hacking etc and only a 60:40 chance of even being a happy hacker - which is not really his style. Currently looking at another 2 weeks box rest then reassessment.
What I am finding difficult to find is the time span for these injuries, I know every case is different, but would be interested in anyone else experience, how long before your horse started to come sound, did they stay sound, did you turn away and if so for how long, etc ?
I'm posting this in both Veterinary and Tack Room to glean the most experiences.
Many thanks in anticipation

One here had a tendon tear behind the knee from last Feb till Feb this year and only just got turned out 2 months ago with the others. I think your looking at 9 months to a year to become sound enough to ride

 

[Mildlander]

Thanks for your replies.
My current thinking is to reassess in 2 weeks which will make it 7 weeks on box rest and then probably turn him away til next spring and see what he's like then and hopefully he will be sound to start the long process of slowly bringing back into work. He usually lives out 24/7 so he's been very good about box rest so far but I have had to put him on my instructors yard as he wouldn't settle at home. Fingers crossed
I'm trying to be realistic about the long term. I don't own my own land so a field ornament for the next 20 years is not an option, nor will I ever sell him having had this injury as my understanding is there is probably always going to be a tendency to a weakness so will need careful management and that's my responsibility as an owner. So I have to do the best I can to get him sound again otherwise I have a horrible decision to make.