Update on horse dragging hinds - vet's been

[Christmas Crumpet]

As per previous posts horse was messing about in field and pulled or tweaked something doing emergency stops in the snow.

Had physio out who said he should be ok after her visit. He was much worse and dragging both hinds instead of just one. I was advised to turn him out and bute twice a day. Unfortunately 3 days after that my father died so I have been away looking after my mother and having the funeral etc. Had to leave OH in charge of Happy and he was literally turned out every day, fed and brought in again and nothing else.

Came back on Sunday and I had hoped that Happy might have had a miraculous recovery whilst I was away but sadly not!! So vet came out yesterday and she thinks that whilst he was doing his emergency stops his hind legs slipped in the snow underneath him and he's wrenched his back. He is still very sore. She did hind flexions on him and he came up slightly positive on both but she didn't seem to be too worried about that at the moment because the back appears to be the worst bit.

He is to walk in hand for half an hour a day going up to an hour by 2 weeks, bute 1 x twice a day and turn out. Vet is also talking to physio to see what we can do extra to help him. I'm not worried about how long it takes now because hunting is nearly over and I wouldn't be able to get him out again so he can take his time mending.

Has anyone else had a similar experience and can tell me how long it took to return to normal, what you had to do to rehab the horse etc? Many thanks.

 

[misst]

So sorry to hear about your father.
I wondered how your horse was.
Sounds like time and patience should do the trick. Our lad did his back - pulled a dorsal ligament as a 5 year old. I think he had rest, a few weeks in the field then was ok. Can't remember properly as he has done so many other things since it all runs into a big blur!
Anyway good luck glad you got to the bottom of it.

 

[kit279]

Yup, my grey horse did the very same thing in January, looning in the field and almost fell and was not quite right. As it happened, we had very heavy snow for 10 days so he stayed stabled for 10 days and I gave him high dose bute. We were going to turn him out into a small pen for a further 10 days but he was so manic in it (cantering round and round in 5 metre circles, shaking and sweating) that I decided 'sod it' and let him out. He was turned out 24/7 for another week then we checked him over again and he was fine and not sore and now back in work and feels great. The really important thing is to box rest - I found that with another horse of mine who was always duffing his back. He had to be kept as still as possible to let it heal properly and then he was usually fine.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

I must have looked a right state talking him for a walk this morning down the bridleway in my pj's!! Bless him - despite being an ex racehorse he quite happily very quietly trundles after me.

Physio is coming out on Thursday and has been talking to the vet so we are very clear about the injury etc.

I've been told to turn him out because walking around loosens him up a bit. Hopefully the combination of gentle grazing and bute will keep him happy.

My dad dying put things in perspective - after all just because Happy can't be ridden for a while it isn't the end of the world. He'll still be there in 3 weeks time and its worth taking the time to get him 100% better. The problem with us horsey lot is that we want them mended immediately! I do wish I'd got the vet out straight away but hindsight is a wonderful thing!!

Thanks for advice - really glad to hear your horses are better!!