Tie back surgery

[Hormonal Filly]

Has anyone experienced a horse that roars, how loud was it? What made you operate?

My mare is reasonably fit and just started doing faster work with her. My vet said it could improve or worsen as she gets older, she’s 5 but he wouldn’t operate unless I want to event Novice.

Her roar is definitely more noticeable now when having a gallop or doing any faster work. People ask what the noise is and I’m worried it might be limiting her.

 

[ihatework]

I had my big event horse operated on twice.

First we did a standing laser hobday, cheap and easy and was definitely worth a try. I did this after feeling he was a little exercise intolerant even though his wind noise wasn’t too bad. Overground scoped and confirmed before operating obviously. This was before he was competing properly.

He then did a full season on the hobday, wind noise more obvious post hobday. Performance pretty good, definitely happier. Noticed performance limit at about 5 mins of gallop. Rescoped. Decided to tie-back.

Tie-back not without some considerations but ultimately I think you need to be guided by horse and what they seem comfortable with work wise. Sound isn’t really the deciding factor, it’s wind function and exercise tolerance.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Sound isn’t really the deciding factor, it’s wind function and exercise tolerance.

Thanks IHW. She definitely tires when having a gallop and struggles to catch her breath. I thought it was more fitness but she’s been in a good amount of varied work now, looks and feels well.

Just spoke to my vet who has said the hot weather won’t help (although she is ridden early mornings) and to see how she is in a few weeks, if no improvement we can scope during exercise.

 

[ihatework]

Thanks IHW. She definitely tires when having a gallop and struggles to catch her breath. I thought it was more fitness but she’s been in a good amount of varied work now, looks and feels well.

Just spoke to my vet who has said the hot weather won’t help (although she is ridden early mornings) and to see how she is in a few weeks, if no improvement we can scope during exercise.

In which case if galloping is in her job description then ethically I think operating is the way forwards if there is a confirmed wind issue.
Go to Ben Brains in Stow, best in area for it

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Go to Ben Brains in Stow, best in area for it

Thank you. Assuming you can go direct. I’ll give them a ring..

It might make sense why she finds groundwork easier than ridden work, because she becomes out of breath sooner when ridden. Maybe I’m over looking into it!

 

[ihatework]

Thank you. Assuming you can go direct. I’ll give them a ring..

It might make sense why she finds groundwork easier than ridden work, because she becomes out of breath sooner when ridden. Maybe I’m over looking into it!

There are other things it could be, but deffo worth ruling out structural.
Call them up, box over, they scope on their gallops and if needed can usually admit them there and then and operate soon after.

 

[SEL]

I had a 13h pony done just over two years ago and I think she'd have been unrideable without it. Took a while to get there because vet was convinced she just had a pollen allergy but the poor pony was exhausted and wheezing after a circuit of trot.

Finally she thought she saw something on the standing scope. They use an external surgeon who usually does racehorses and he asked me to video myself riding her. Footage at the beginning of the ride, 10mins in and then after canter work. When I spoke to him afterwards he said he was willing me to pull up in the canter she was so loud.

Uneventful surgery except she was discharged with an open wound which is apparently standard. Stabled 4 weeks while it healed and then gentle return to work. She has a soft palate issue as well which they tried to sort but it didn't work. I just ride her bitless and she is fine - even in today's weather.

I'd do the surgery. The pony is so much happier now.

 

[ycbm]

Uneventful surgery except she was discharged with an open wound which is apparently standard.

That is standard for a normal hobday but not for a laser hobday. A hobday, removal of parts of the larynx is normally done at the same hospital stay as the tieback.

Mine had a laser hobday, no open wound.

In had the operation done because he couldn't trot up a moderate slope and a gallop was out of the question.
.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Ben Brain specialises in wind ops. They have a deep sand circular gallop there. They put the overground scope on, pop their jockey on, send it out for a warm up lap then send another horse to join it to test the wind properly and send it on. The overground scope will show any issues.

 

[SEL]

That is standard for a normal hobday but not for a laser hobday. A hobday, removal of parts of the larynx is normally done at the same hospital stay as the tieback.

Mine had a laser hobday, no open wound.

In had the operation done because he couldn't trot up a moderate slope and a gallop was out of the question.
.

I wasn't offered a laser one - but then the surgeon said she was one of the worst he'd seen for a long time. Had no idea until I started to bring her into work post weaning her foal.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Thanks all, really helpful.

This morning we went to the gallops early, weirdly I didn’t really hear her roar, it was different type of noise but definitely not ‘normal’. Makes me wonder if it’s allergy related. Will see how things go.

 

[ycbm]

A roar will usually only be present on the in breath as the leading leg goes forward. Really bad ones will do it on the out breath too, but usually louder on the in.

I hope you get to the bottom of it.