Update ( Tendon)

[jojane]

So i posted on here a good few weeks back about my boy been of with a tendon injury!!
So hes been back in work 6weeks almost walking,seems very happy,forward and pleased to be out!!
The last scan my vet did she said it was healing nicely BUTTT to be honest al 3 scans have looked the same to me...There was only ever a few little dark lines in them...
I over panic and worry alot but am now thinking was it the start is this tendon just going to go and end up with a big hole in it like some do...Does this happen??
Hes been of 14weeks in all and feels just as good as always now am back on!!
We have a very good back lady who is very pleased with the way ehs coming on but says he uses his hamstrings incorrectly??? Something were trying to correct!!
The vet didnt really give me any great after care i have just been doing what i think...
So what do u gusy think how long to walk for???i have been walking in lines everyday 20plus mins??
My horse is and ex event horse hes had a hard life bless him hes 14 nearly 15 and i use him for general stuff,hacking,showing,pleasure rides.
will i ever be able to school him again??
He was lame for about 4 days reason i got the vet 22weeks ago then he went back to been his normal self,his pedal bone lays lower infront hoof from old injury and he rests his back leg when in field or stable etc n is stiffish for first two strides when unresting but to ride etc perfect...
Sorry for the long post theres alot to get out for me to recive the best answers) So any info on rehab??when to start trotting???did my horse ever do his tendon??the scans all looked the same??he always fails felxtion tests but dont ever think he will pass one..
He rests alot is this habbit for some??? the stiffness for first few strides after resting normal????i dont want to miss anything and have been looking in the wrong places but the vet knows best hey!!Also the vet said hes now a grade one???before was a 3????any info greatfull ) i only want whats ebst for my boy)

 

[Birker2020]

So i posted on here a good few weeks back about my boy been of with a tendon injury!!
So hes been back in work 6weeks almost walking,seems very happy,forward and pleased to be out!!
The last scan my vet did she said it was healing nicely BUTTT to be honest al 3 scans have looked the same to me...There was only ever a few little dark lines in them...
I over panic and worry alot but am now thinking was it the start is this tendon just going to go and end up with a big hole in it like some do...Does this happen??
Hes been of 14weeks in all and feels just as good as always now am back on!!
We have a very good back lady who is very pleased with the way ehs coming on but says he uses his hamstrings incorrectly??? Something were trying to correct!!
The vet didnt really give me any great after care i have just been doing what i think...
So what do u gusy think how long to walk for???i have been walking in lines everyday 20plus mins??
My horse is and ex event horse hes had a hard life bless him hes 14 nearly 15 and i use him for general stuff,hacking,showing,pleasure rides.
will i ever be able to school him again??
He was lame for about 4 days reason i got the vet 22weeks ago then he went back to been his normal self,his pedal bone lays lower infront hoof from old injury and he rests his back leg when in field or stable etc n is stiffish for first two strides when unresting but to ride etc perfect...
Sorry for the long post theres alot to get out for me to recive the best answers) So any info on rehab??when to start trotting???did my horse ever do his tendon??the scans all looked the same??he always fails felxtion tests but dont ever think he will pass one..
He rests alot is this habbit for some??? the stiffness for first few strides after resting normal????i dont want to miss anything and have been looking in the wrong places but the vet knows best hey!!Also the vet said hes now a grade one???before was a 3????any info greatfull ) i only want whats ebst for my boy)

Hi there Jojane. Sorry for the long reply but I wanted to be a thorough as I could be. I might be wrong, but I'm guessing from your post that you are quite young so I can understand why you might be worried and confused by what's been going wrong with your lovely horse. Can your parents or a friend/yard owner be there next time the vet comes out?

Sounds like you need to have a chat with your vet. I've got a tendon injury with my boy at the moment (who is 14) and he had his second scan on Friday with no improvement and the vet has seen something 'sinister' over the fetlock joint so he's coming on Tuesday morning to xray it.

On a nutshell this was the work programme for my horse-My horse started off with two weeks box rest with walking in hand 15 mins per day, then walk (ridden) exercise for four weeks. Then the vet came out reevaulated and said ok four weeks walk by end of fourth week more or less back in full work. Did as he said and when he came out at the end of the fourth week the scan showed no improvement, so told me to do four weeks walk. Did four weeks walk, came out last friday, said no improvement for the second time so xray and shockwave therapy is needed.

Bails injury is ONLY a slight sprain of the lateral branch of the suspensory ligament (the branch goes across the fetlock before going down the back of the foot into the sesamoid bone. I'm not sure what your horse's injury is as I can't find your post from weeks ago. Your vet should have told you what programme he wanted you to undertake with your horse in detail, including medicine if necessary and turnout. Please do not be tempted to do anything to soon until you speak to your vet. If your horses scan is showing improvement its tempting to crack on but this is when a small sprain can develop into a huge tear resulting in months of box rest and in some instances a very poor prognosis to a return to work.

You need to speak to your vet. The scans all might look the same JoJane but you're not a vet and to the layman they look very confusing with wavy lines, and black and white areas, I am always looking mystified at the screen myself!! but my vet is brilliant and always takes time to show me what's wrong with my horse, pointing out different things on the scan, and always remaining positive and happy to answer any questions I might have.

Horses often rest their hind legs, this is perfectly normal, if your horse has always done it before. What exactly is wrong with your horse according to your 'back lady'? Why do you not get a physio out to look at the horse? The vet would have to agree to this first but a physio will be able to assess the horse and advise accordingly what exercises you can do, i.e. stretching exercises. My horse is tight through his hamstrings to so I have been shown exercises I can do to help him. My physio has an long wave ultrasound scanner and so she has been using it (in collaboration with the vet) to try and promote deep healing within the tendon and surrounding tissues. She has also been giving him physio sessions as he has overcompensated in other areas and is therefore sore. But she's been doing it every day and she's been so brilliant. She is Nelson11 if you wish to use her, she will travel 100 mile from Solihull (that's by Birmingham). If the horse needs treatment every day and the horse is some way away she will have it in at the lovely yard where she keeps hers so she can work on it every day, she has one rehab in at the moment.

Believe me when i say if the vet says your horse has 'done' a tendon then he will have. If ever there was any doubt in the vets mind the scans speak for themselves and cannot lie. You really need to get on the phone and get the vet out for a re-evaluation and an exercise programme worked out. You need to ask him when he comes out if he is going to come out again and when is this likley to be (i.e. after a fortnight/month) and if he is going to do another scan when he does come out to check if the tendon is healing. You need to take a pen and paper or get the vet to write things down for you as its so easy to forget what the vet says, I always do this, I think 'now I must remember to ask.....' and then forget what he's said because I'm so intent on asking my question! Have a friend with you if you can, because that's really helpful, so if you forget your friend will hopefully remind you.

I'm not sure what your vet means by Grade 3 and Grade 1, I've only ever heard those terms used in neuro cases. But I think what he means is 3/10ths lame or 1/10ths lame, this is a common way of assessing how lame the horse is. If that's the case then your horse is going the right way. My horse showed completely sound trotted in hand to and from the vet on Friday. When he flexion tested the bad leg and we trotted off and back to the vet he was quite lame indeed.

Finally I must just say this, that the vet requested my friend film me trotting Bailey the day before he came out to see him last Friday so that he could watch the video as he did before. If I knew how to put the video on here I would do so as I think you will agree that the horse looks as though he is sound as a pound. Even the vet said he was sound. But we then scanned and saw what was lurking beneath! This is why its easy for a relatively small sprain to turn into a massive tear that can't be saved in some cases so please, please get the vet out and don't be tempted to work the horse more than you are already doing so until your vet tells you otherwise. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you want any help xx