Views please

[Waxwing]

Hi the vet spotted it without nerve blocks etc. She is due to go in for further tests to ascertain exactly what is going on. I am aware it could be a range of potential issues and if more than one is going to be more difficult to treat. I feel very sad, but know whatever the eventual outcome I am doing the right thing for her.

 

[Waxwing]

Hi I have what is probably a very stupid question. Lameness workup is booked in for next week ; I have explained that we are not riding her at present but have been asked been asked to bring her tack with her her in case it is needed. I will not be offering to ride her and wouldn't be expecting anyone else to. I also can't lunge so do I need to try to arrange to take someone with me who can. This is the first time I have needed to take a horse in for any sort of work up so I am not sure what to expect and what the vets will expect from me.

 

[Red-1]

I would lunge in the couple of days before you go, if she lunges competently and does not look obviously lame. This seems against the grain but it will mean that you are not flying a kite when you get there. I have known a horse go for a lameness workup who was so 'high' that the vet said he was sound, although we knew he was not!

It also means that, if you do ride, she is not likely to throw shapes.

I rode Jay-Man when he'd been off for ages with a mystery not quite right-ness. When the vet nerve blocked the correct place, the horse tossed his head like a Wella advert and squealed in delight. I rode then, and it was like having my old horse back. It meant the vet knew we had the correct place to treat and nothing else was amiss.

Perhaps contact them if you really would not be prepared to ride and ask if they think this is very important? It may be possible that they have a rider or that you could take your instructor? But, I am sure an accurate diagnosis can be made without riding, unless the tack is a contributary factor..

 

[Zoeypxo]

Most vets will have someone to lunge the horse and someone to ride.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Does she lunge? Lunging is a pretty important part of a lameness evaluation, so if you are not sure whether she does or not it is best get someone at your yard to lunge her in the days before she goes to the vets to check. In any case it will remind her what to do if she hasn’t lunged for a long time. She might need a reminder session or two.

There ought to be someone at your vets to lunge her for you, but it’s much better for the lameness check if she’s calm and relaxed on the lunge for them.

My vets do slow steady walk and trots on the lunge on a small circle on hard level ground as well as lunging wtc on a surface in the arena.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Does she lunge? Lunging is a pretty important part of a lameness evaluation, so if you are not sure whether she does or not it is best get someone at your yard to lunge her in the days before she goes to the vets to check. In any case it will remind her what to do if she hasn’t lunged for a long time. She might need a reminder session or two.

There ought to be someone at your vets to lunge her for you, but it’s much better for the lameness check if she’s calm and relaxed on the lunge for them.

Mine do slow steady walk and trots on the lunge on a small circle on hard level ground as well as lunging wtc on a surface in the arena.

Not a lot to add other than good luck and I hope they find something that is easily treatable Keep us posted

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Most big vets have assistants that trot up and lunge horses everyday and this is often so if the owner is present they can look at the horse with the vet.

The only time I have had to do it all my self is when they come to the yard, but it might be worth ringing them just to check.

 

[Bobthecob15]

How did you get on? I hope the news is positive x

 

[Waxwing]

Currently at the vets, collecting her this evening and awaiting feedback from the vet later this afternoon.

 

[Annagain]

Currently at the vets, collecting her this evening and awaiting feedback from the vet later this afternoon.

I've been thinking about you, I thought it was tomorrow she was going in so was getting ready to message you then.

 

[Waxwing]

I have spoken with the vet; they have medicated her sacroiliac joint and have put a rehab plan in place. There is some closeness in some of the spinal processes which they may medicate as well depending how she responds the sacroiliac being medicated. No riding for the first month and they are prescribing a low dose of ACP for the first two to three weeks when she is ridden, to hopefully allow her to get used to not associating riding with pain from the sacroiliac joint. If the physio feels there is any discomfort in her back after four weeks they will medicate this prior to any ridden work being attempted. The vet will review after eight weeks. The vet agreed that the bucking and reactive behaviour was consistent with what they had found but they obviously can't guarantee treating it will stop her bucking. They didn't find anything else which was particularly clinically significant. They also advised there was no clinical reason she couldn't have a foal in the future, not a definite plan but as she is a pure bred ID and has a lovely temperament on the ground it was something I was interested in knowing.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’ve had good results with SI joint medications, although tbf I’ve always known and previously treated whichever primary issue caused the SI pain in the first place.

I’m glad that the physio will check her before you ride. My chiro vet says you have just a finite pain free window after the SI joint has been medicated to get the horse moving more correctly. If the wonky movement persists uncorrected, the horse will re injure itself.

Good luck.

 

[Amymay Again]

Mmmm, not broodmare candidate sadly - unless the back is x-rayed clear.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Im glad it’s something that can hopefully be treated, thanks for the update x

 

[misst]

Great you've found a cause for the pain. Not being negative but were hind suspensories scanned?

 

[Xmasha]

If the spinal processes are too close please don’t breed from her . If Janet George was still alive she would be telling you about her experience with it and how it’s most definitely hereditary. I X-ray my mares before breeding from them just to rule it out .

I’m glad you have some answers and hope it makes all the difference.
A friend of mine has had the back treated for kissing spines , and the horse is now completely different under saddle

Good luck and keep us updated x

 

[Annagain]

I'm glad you have some answers and hope medicating the SI improves things for Lola.

 

[Waxwing]

I am pleased there are issues identified that can be treated. I've shared the vet report with her physio and she felt the prognosis was good. I'm currently looking into local rehab yard options for six weeks ish. I can manage the ground work side but I've definitely not got the skills or confidence to do the initial ridden work. I'm not sure I'll want to ride her again at all but obviously I need to know if she can successfully come back into work, and then go from there. The phyiso has recommended a local yard where she works twice a week so I will go and have a look. I just want to get the best long term outcome for the horse.

 

[Waxwing]

I have now visited the rehab yard and it was lovely and it definitely sounds like the have the skills and set up needed. The physio I know and trust is there twice a week and will plan and oversee the exercises they do with her which is a big plus. I'm planning for her to go there for an initial six week period in a few weeks time and we will see how we go from there. If it works well and the rehab is successful I may keep her there a little bit longer for some schooling to continue to build the correct muscles up. The cost works out the same as what my current livery is plus the cost of bringing someone in to ride her once we reach that stage of the rehab. Its only about fifteen minutes further away than the yard she is currently on so going to see her two to three times a week will be perfectly feasible. Their grazing is on sandy soil so she can be out every day whatever the weather does I just think this will take the pressure off me and the staff on my current yard. I really hope that if she is sound and pain free and this can be maintained, we will get back the horse we bought and she will then stay with me. Whichever way it goes I think this gives her the best chance of a successful recovery.

 

[Annagain]

I have now visited the rehab yard and it was lovely and it definitely sounds like the have the skills and set up needed. The physio I know and trust is there twice a week and will plan and oversee the exercises they do with her which is a big plus. I'm planning for her to go there for an initial six week period in a few weeks time and we will see how we go from there. If it works well and the rehab is successful I may keep her there a little bit longer for some schooling to continue to build the correct muscles up. The cost works out the same as what my current livery is plus the cost of bringing someone in to ride her once we reach that stage of the rehab. Its only about fifteen minutes further away than the yard she is currently on so going to see her two to three times a week will be perfectly feasible. Their grazing is on sandy soil so she can be out every day whatever the weather does I just think this will take the pressure off me and the staff on my current yard. I really hope that if she is sound and pain free and this can be maintained, we will get back the horse we bought and she will then stay with me. Whichever way it goes I think this gives her the best chance of a successful recovery.

That sounds like a very sensible plan. I really hope it works out for you both.

 

[Waxwing]

Thank you, my current yard are supportive of the plan and she can return there when the rehab is completed. I am still in two minds whether I want to get back on her even if she is successfully rehabbed, but if I ensure the rehab is done properly and is followed up with some schooling to ensure she is going correctly and build up the relevant muscles etc I will be giving her the best chance for the future. If the rehab isn't successful I am less likely to worry about what else I should have done. My husband is very supportive and assists with paying horse related bills which reduces that worry, there isn't a never ending pot of money but paying extra for rehab/ schooling livery and extra for physio etc for three to four months is doable.

 

[Annagain]

Thank you, my current yard are supportive of the plan and she can return there when the rehab is completed. I am still in two minds whether I want to get back on her even if she is successfully rehabbed, but if I ensure the rehab is done properly and is followed up with some schooling to ensure she is going correctly and build up the relevant muscles etc I will be giving her the best chance for the future. If the rehab isn't successful I am less likely to worry about what else I should have done. My husband is very supportive and assists with paying horse related bills which reduces that worry, there isn't a never ending pot of money but paying extra for rehab/ schooling livery and extra for physio etc for three to four months is doable.

I suspect these next few months will make your mind up for you. She'll either be back to her original self, which you'll see over time and be happy to get back on or she won't (or she will but you still won't want to get back on and that's fine too) and you'll know that you tried your best but it didn't work out. I really hope it's the former but either way you've done your best for her.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

It’s good that you have a plan and the right people and facilities. Good luck.

 

[Waxwing]

They physio has been out with this week; the good news is that she is very pleased with her back and does not feel the spinal processes need medicating. However when she asked me to trot her up and has noticed some issues with her left hind placement that were not evident when she last saw her in the summer. The physio is going to speak to the vet to see if any of the scans and xrays they completed can offer any insight into what may be causing this This is the first time she trotted since her SI was treated, we have been following the rehab plan recommended by the vet and physio. The discharge report from vets said she had mild left hind lameness as a secondary issue to the SI. I appreciate the physio might have observed what the vets saw when they examined her, but would have hoped if the injections had reduced the pain and inflammation in her SI this would/ should have improved?

 

[Tiddlypom]

IME when you fix one source of pain (in this case the SI) then other wonkinesses become evident which were formerly masked.

Good on your physio both for observing this and for talking to your vet about it. Hope it’s something and nothing, but sometimes it’s a case of the more you look for the more you find.

 

[Waxwing]

I am feeling rather daunted at the moment. The horse is fine in herself, in so far as she is happy in the field with her friends and happy to come in. She hasn't objected to any of the activities in rehab programme, which are all at a walk at present. I don't want her to be in pain and given her recent very extreme reactions when she was ridden I want to be as sure as possible its going to be safe as and when she ridden again.

 

[Waxwing]

I am feeling somewhat reassured since the physio spoke with the vet, they advised that the trot up the physio had filmed looked better than when the vet initially assessed her. They said they had undertaken very thorough investigations and are confident there is no other soft tissue or joint issue affecting her hind gait and it can be three to four weeks after treatment that the full benefit of the long acting steroid injections is felt. The vet is confident that with further strengthening and conditioning work and implementing the advice of the physio her hind gait should become more symmetrical. She is going on rehab livery soon and her physio is based there twice a week so will be keeping a close eye on her and can liaise further with the vet if required. It is still early days but I am feeling a little more positive than I was a few days ago.