Thicker tendon (bit long)

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ribena73

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I've just got a thoroughbred mare who was apparently brought into this country after being in training in Ireland but not raced. I spoke to her former trainer before I bought her and he tole me that she was sound and had never had a problem. I've noticed that the tendon on one of her front legs is very slightly thicker than the other, it's not bowed at all, it just seems generally thicker all along it than the one on the other leg. Coupled with the fact that she's been wearing racing plates with no toe grabs (which according to wikipedia toe grabs can lead to tendon injury) I'm now wondering if I've been spun a line and she has actually damaged her tendon. She isn't at all lame and there is no heat in it.

I know the most sensible option is to have my vet take a look at her (I didn't get her vet checked as she was relatively cheap; took a very knowledgeable friend with me who had spotted same problems as the vet on a horse that failed the vetting), but I was wondering the best course of action in the meantime? I've been riding her in neoprene sports boots, but only doing a bit of light schooling as her flatwork is dreadful (as you would imagine coming off a racing yard), and she's lost one of those racing plates!

Do you think its just the way her tendons have developed (I know mine in my left hand are stronger than my right as its my dominant hand), or is it left over from an injury?
 
sounds like at some point there has been stress to the area and that mayb the thickening is granualation tissue, the only real way you are ever gonna know is by having it scanned by your vet! imo
 
Sounds like she's got a leg to me - I'd get your vet to have a look if you're not experienced with tendon injuries. They aren't always lame with a tendon injury and trust me, it will get worse if you keep riding her and she does have such an injury.

When you take into account her past history - she was in training but didn't run, did you ask why she didn't run? - it sounds like a classic case to me. Never, ever, believe anyone who tells you a horse was always sound - especially a former trainer of a horse for sale who will alwys tell you they were/are sound. Oldest trick in the book.
 
In fact I'm utterly amazed that your "very knowledgable friend" didn't pick up on one tendon being thicker than the other. It's absolutely the first thing you look for in a racehorse - basic stuff.
 
Thanks for your advice. Yes I am a bit disappointed with my "very knowledgeable friend" at the moment. She did pick up on the slight thickening but said her eventing tb gelding has the same and it's caused him no problems.

The swelling seems to have gone down a bit now though, she did have a mad gallop up the drive on Thursday when she spooked at something, lost a shoe at the same time, and I wonder if she did something then? I think I will give my vet a ring today just so that I know one way or another what the story is. A tendon injury isn't the end of the world for what I want to do with her, I just want to make sure that I manage it right if it hasn't healed properly yet.
 
My ex racehorse most definately did a leg when in training - he was fired for it so no doubt there!! His off fore is slightly thicker just below the knee but so far (fingers crossed) hasn't caused any problems and he's been schooling, galloping, jumping 3 ft plus.

I've gone from one extreme to another - having a hunter who seriously bowed a tendon (which didn't hold out for very long and he ended up being pts) to this one who only has very slight thickening of the tendon and you'd only notice it if you felt for it.

If you are in any doubt then get it scanned to find out whether it has healed properly and if not, what the course of action would be.
 
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