Things are a bit tricky again

[J_sarahd]

Things were going really well with Shadow post hock injections - he was more forward on hacks, a lot less aggressive and generally just felt happier. He also looks so much better. The vet said we could slowly start introducing schooling again, but 4 sessions in and there was a niggling feeling that something wasn’t right, so she came out on Thursday.

Sound in a straight line on the hard, positive to flexions on his right hind and still lame on his right hind on the soft. She thinks it’s either that the right hock needs a bit more support (arthramid), suspensories or stifle (he has developed an abduction in trot on his right side).

She hasn’t got a surgery week until the start of May so her advice was to keep lightly hacking him and water treadmilling until I can take him in for nerve blocks etc. OR turn him away until next spring.

I just feel exhausted. I’m giving him this week off because mentally, I’m all over the place and he’s out 24/7 so it won’t hurt. He is so sweet and, apart from the aggression earlier this year, hasn’t done a single thing wrong and just gets on with it.

I feel like I’m back to where I was a year ago with Nova. I just want to fix him

 

[scats]

Sorry to hear things still aren’t great. Have they scanned his suspensories previously or not?

 

[SEL]

What a nightmare.

Apologies if you've said before but do you have a good physio on board who can make sure you have a robust plan of groundwork exercises? I do notice the difference in my one with weak quads if I stop doing them - and I know it has a knock on effect on his stifles and hocks but finding time amongst everything else going on is a pain. I gave myself a telling off over the weekend and told myself to knuckle down with stretches and his exercises again

 

[J_sarahd]

No they haven’t yet.

I’m not sure what would be the best case scenario as to the cause of the lameness as my experience with them isn’t the best so my brain is immediately thinking well he’s gonna be retired before he’s 7.

In terms of suspensories, what is the more “conservative” treatment as 1. I wouldn’t be able to afford the N&F and 2. I don’t think I’d do it again, especially in one so young who it would be nice to do some fun things with cautiously in the future?

 

[J_sarahd]

What a nightmare.

Apologies if you've said before but do you have a good physio on board who can make sure you have a robust plan of groundwork exercises? I do notice the difference in my one with weak quads if I stop doing them - and I know it has a knock on effect on his stifles and hocks but finding time amongst everything else going on is a pain. I gave myself a telling off over the weekend and told myself to knuckle down with stretches and his exercises again

I do have a good physio that has been there throughout it all. I have an appointment booked in with her soon so hopefully that will help. I think a lot of it will be helped by generic overall strengthening, as he is very weak but I guess it’s a bit of a chicken/egg situation

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Oh no.. came here just to say I'm so sorry to hear Shadow isn't right. Some people get bad luck after bad luck!

 

[J_sarahd]

Oh no.. came here just to say I'm so sorry to hear Shadow isn't right. Some people get bad luck after bad luck!

Thank you- I am trying to take some sort of pride in the fact that I noticed. He is very subtly lame to the point where I had to really, really concentrate to see it when my vet lunged him to show me. And he has honestly never put a foot wrong - there were of course tiny signs that things weren’t right but I think a lot of people would’ve put them down to weakness or greenness.

Not saying I’m some sort of horse whisperer but I definitely think my experience (and my overthinking brain!) has taught me 100% that if you’re worried about your horse to get it checked out by a vet

 

[scats]

No they haven’t yet.

I’m not sure what would be the best case scenario as to the cause of the lameness as my experience with them isn’t the best so my brain is immediately thinking well he’s gonna be retired before he’s 7.

In terms of suspensories, what is the more “conservative” treatment as 1. I wouldn’t be able to afford the N&F and 2. I don’t think I’d do it again, especially in one so young who it would be nice to do some fun things with cautiously in the future?

I did the conservative treatment with P because the vets said she wasn’t really a candidate for treatment due to her slightly odd behaviour (they were very glad to send her home, let’s put it that way!) She had 12 months off and returned to light work- walk and trot. She still can’t canter unless she’s flying around the field and then it’s almost totally out of control and she terrifies herself.

Though there were other issues at play with P though- PSSM and some odd behaviour quirks so I wouldn’t really take her as an example.

Im so sorry you are having a rough time again x

 

[webble]

Oh jeez I have no words to help I'm sorry but just wanted to offer some virtual support, I know exactly how you feel sadly (loan pony is lame and going back) its just constant emotional exhaustion isnt it, bug hugs

 

[J_sarahd]

I did the conservative treatment with P because the vets said she wasn’t really a candidate for treatment due to her slightly odd behaviour (they were very glad to send her home, let’s put it that way!) She had 12 months off and returned to light work- walk and trot. She still can’t canter unless she’s flying around the field and then it’s almost totally out of control and she terrifies herself.

Though there were other issues at play with P though- PSSM and some odd behaviour quirks so I wouldn’t really take her as an example.

Im so sorry you are having a rough time again x

Ah thank you. My vet did basically say that we will end up having a very quiet year this year. And I’ll do whatever it takes to make him comfortable.

If we can get him to a place where he is able to low-level event on good going every so often and have fun the rest of the time with a lot of monitoring and maintenance, I’ll be happy but I know that will take a lot of rehabbing and monitoring ground conditions. Equally, if we can only get him comfortable enough to be a happy hacker, then I’ll be so sad but equally I’ll just have to get on with it. I think I wrote a very similar thing about Nova…

 

[nutjob]

I've had 3 with suspensory issues, none have had n&f and I wouldn't consider it. There are other options for treatment but you need to find out what you're dealing with, one of mine had shock wave but it wasn't enough as he had other problems. PRP and stem cell treatment have also been mentioned to me. A current horse had a front leg suspensory injury which reoccurred but hasn't had any treatment other than rest and walking rehab. He took about 18 months to recover and is doing low level dressage but I've stopped jumping him.

If it was me I would get the hind suspensories scanned to know one way or another if there's a problem.

Good luck I hope it turns out to be something not serious and treatable.

 

[J_sarahd]

I've had 3 with suspensory issues, none have had n&f and I wouldn't consider it. There are other options for treatment but you need to find out what you're dealing with, one of mine had shock wave but it wasn't enough as he had other problems. PRP and stem cell treatment have also been mentioned to me. A current horse had a front leg suspensory injury which reoccurred but hasn't had any treatment other than rest and walking rehab. He took about 18 months to recover and is doing low level dressage but I've stopped jumping him.

If it was me I would get the hind suspensories scanned to know one way or another if there's a problem.

Good luck I hope it turns out to be something not serious and treatable.

Thank you - it’s good to know there are other viable options. My vet is anti N&F too (different vet to the one who treated Nova who I think would recommend N&F to any and every one). I’m praying it’s not suspensories but equally I know that I will just have to get on and deal with whatever it is

 

[Waxwing]

I just wanted to say how sorry I was to read this; I followed your previous journey with Nova as I was going through similar issues with my own horse. Initially it appeared the treatment and rehab were working for her, but she showed me in not so subtle a way that she was in pain again. Shadow is very lucky to have you as an owner; the main thing I have learnt from my own experience is to listen my gut instinct as this usually right, even when other people with more experience may have a different view. While it obviously didn't work out with my horse I do have friends with horses with ongoing maintenance needs who are are about and about doing a variety of activities and have been able to do so for a number of years since the issue was initially diagnosed. Sending a virtual hug.

 

[Alibear]

Sorry you're going through this again, I'd book in for early May and keep him ticking over as much as you can.
As so far its all pointed to hocks, there are a lot of good treatment options for those, it can sometimes just take a few goes to get the right ones for your horse.

Ambers back in on the 9th May as something is not quite right at the moment, we'll have been waiting for a month by the time we go, but its worth it to me to get the good vet and the access to all the machinery etc.
Now I've typed that watch it get postponed, I'm not sure I'll be as chill about it then.