Update on check ligament injury

[Birker2020]

Well its been 7 weeks and two days since my horse got her check ligament injury. She's been barefoot for almost 6 weeks and on box rest with icing (twice a day as I've been out of work since 8th Jan so been going up twice daily) and ultrasound for 10 mins once a day. She's been bandaged over night and on one bute a day with a five minute increase in controlled exercise every fortnight (currently on walker for 15m a day as wearing feet out too much being led around yard).

Vet came out last night. After a long discussion, (due to finances of being out of work for so long and not earning over xmas either) i decided not to have the leg scanned as i already have a significant outstanding balance on my vet account. On palpation her leg is still sore although she trotted up completely sound.

Farrier out today to fit heart bar shoes. Another five weeks box rest until the next assessment when i will have caught up financially and will have a scan then as I'm on day 2 of my new 11 month contract! Hopefully she can start ridden hacking which is all she does anyway. If the ground conditions were good she could feasibly go out in a small paddock but I've decided to keep her in until spring.

Just thought I'd do an update in case anyone is following.

 

[ester]

Why is she having heart bars on for box rest and trotting up sound?

 

[Birker2020]

Why is she having heart bars on for box rest and trotting up sound?

Hi Ester it's something i think to do with giving the frog support and maybe because she is a bit flat footed at the moment. Because she has this neck condition (C7/T1 transposed process) she has gone slightly pigeon toed and the vet was keen on shoeing in such a way as to prevent this getting any worse.

I trust his judgement, he's spoken to my farrier and they have agreed on a plan of action. I have no idea if this is long term or even if she can tolerate or even keep this type of shoe long term. Time will tell.

I'm actually exhausted by it all and the spiralling costs of which I've had to control by saying no for the first time in 23 years!

There's only so much money you can plough into an aged horse long term.

 

[ester]

They do make foot/frog hygiene more difficult. Even with me clearing under the regularly they trashed F’s frogs in 2 cycles so I’d keep a close eye and probably treat prophylactically if I had to have them again.

 

[dorsetladette]

If she is sound in a trot up then the management process you have in place is working. If you have ever injured yourself you know that you ma walk soundly/evenly but a bit of you might still be sore to the touch for a while afterwards.
I wouldn't be to hard on yourself regarding the finances. none of us have a bottomless pit of money and even if we did you have to be realistic what you put your horse through. Hopefully when the next assessment is due there will be no need for a scan.

 

[Birker2020]

They do make foot/frog hygiene more difficult. Even with me clearing under the regularly they trashed F’s frogs in 2 cycles so I’d keep a close eye and probably treat prophylactically if I had to have them again.

Here is a photo, presumably the reason for holes in the frog support is for air circulation??

 

[Birker2020]

Grr can't upload

 

[Birker2020]

Here is the photo

 

[Birker2020]

Off hind

 

[Birker2020]

Front feet. I think my farrier has done a good job but I'm no expert although my vets rate him highly. I'd love to show you other photos for comment but they are so hard to upload and i have to crop them so they fit so it's hard to see!

 

[ester]

Thanks for the pic, not seen one like that before def easier to get treatments on. Ours were only farrier made egg bars do not much of frog covered but still caused issues.

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks for the pic, not seen one like that before def easier to get treatments on. Ours were only farrier made egg bars do not much of frog covered but still caused issues.

Bless him I contacted him to find out how much extra he was going to charge me and he's only charging me an extra £25 on top of what he normally charges even though he took the time to make them himself. When i texted him to find out the difference I was gobsmacked. He says he's quite proud of them and i have to agree with him. Thank you C!!