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  Discussion on Using a horse with an old bowed tendon
Author Message
Member:
mleeb

Posted on Friday, Dec 4, 2009 - 4:50 pm:

Hi all,

My daughter bought a mare this fall, an 8 yo Paint, very well broke reining mare, who was sold to her as broodmare sound only, although there was a chance she would be able to sustain some riding, with care, for another year or two before full retirement.

The previous owners, people we know, suspected early arthritis with her because after a few minutes of exercise the mare would start to move smoothly and comfortably.

The mare became lame 3 years ago, and they hauled her to the vet several times for x-rays and exams. The trips yeilded nothing, and her lameness was essentially undiagnosed. The mare was retired to be a brood mare, until this year when they noticed her to be moving much better. They put a handful of rides on her, noted the initial stiffness, and decided to sell her.

Now, I could get really detailed in what happened next, but suffice it to say that when she arrived here, I thought that her farrier might be a big part of the problem, as her toes were long, her heels were short, and she was noticably lame. (Of note, the mare became lame shortly after the previous owners purchased her and their farrier began trimming her.) Two weeks after we bought her, I took her to a new farrier. He changed her angles, and within a week the mare was moving more comfortably, and hasn't taken a lame step since. That was the first week of October. She's been to the farrier again just last week, all is still good. She shows some sole tenderness on hard ground, but moves comfortably in the grass. We will probably shoe and pad her in the spring.

So, here's where the bowed tendon comes in. At the last visit to the farrier, he noted a bowed tendon on the front right leg. Going from memory, I'd say it was mid to low. There was no heat or tenderness. As she doesn't favor the leg at all, I'm wondering if it's possible that this is what caused the initial lameness, and assuming that it was, and that it is healed, how do we go about using her now? Should her care and use be different than that of our other horses? Given this brief history I've outlined, does anything else ring a warning bell? My daughter is not an aggressive rider, and her horses are gently, and often infrequently used, but she does want to ride this mare and learn from her. She would like to take her to the local shows, do some trail rides, and if possible, team penning.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Dec 4, 2009 - 9:13 pm:

Hello Michelle,
The answer to your questions is going to require a physical exam and if a bow is indeed found then a ultrasound to characterize the quality of the healing. I am afraid just being sound while not being worked does not tell us about the potential for reinjury to this tendon.
DrO
Member:
mleeb

Posted on Saturday, Dec 5, 2009 - 10:50 am:

That makes sense. We'll be sure to get her vet checked again before using her.

I have no experience with a horse with a bowed tendon. My understanding is that they all return to a different degree of use depending on the injury, the horse, the care and the healing. Is that correct? Would a healed tendon still appear bowed?
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Dec 5, 2009 - 11:27 am:

Hi Michelle, my old mare bowed her tendon last Feb. She is a pasture ornament, but goes up and down hills, canters, trots fine. Slippery conditions she gets locked up!

I would not be afraid to ride her lightly if she didn't have other issues.

An US would tell you how it has healed. I have a thread in here with pictures of her bowed tendon

There is a collage towards the end of this thread as she healed. There still is a very slight appearance of the bow.

https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/312132.html

I don't know if you read the article on bowed tendons...flexor tendinitis(even tho the bow is old) it may still apply. Many discussions on them also.
https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/312132.html
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Dec 6, 2009 - 9:24 am:

That would be correct Michelle and the article
Diane references above goes into detail on this point.
DrO
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