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  Discussion on Rehabbing Deep Digital Flexor
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Member:
klmcbri

Posted on Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 - 9:17 am:

OK, so I am rehabbing Arthur my 22 yro Trekhner gelding form a 30% core lesion in the DDFT of his right rear. We are up to walking 30 minutes per day and I walk him over cavalettis per the vet due to tendon sheath scarring. So I got permission to use a nearby arena. Hubby and I took him and his buddy there last Sat for a walk during the inclement weather. All was fine, no issues. I decided to try it on my own last night. Took both horses over and put the buddy in the round pen outside the arena so Arthur could see Shelby. All was going well until a border came out to use the arena. I told her we were just walking and that we'd stay out of her way. She walked a few laps then took her horse out to walk the property. Well, my guy decided he didn't like that and thru a fit. Head up, hollering, prancing. I tried letting some line out but he wanted to trot which we aren't ready for yet. So I kept him tight. He wanted to go it tight circles while hollering. I tried getting his head down but he kept jigging. I took him out side to see his buddy, he wanted to graze, took him back in and proceeded with the walk as well as possible all the while he was screaming. We could see the other horse walking around out side. I did my best not to get stepped on and try to get him calm. Once the other horse came back to the arena, Arthur calmed down completely and walked with his head relaxed and normal. So best I can surmise, this is all due to new surroundings, new horse. I have not ever seen him this worked up. He is definitely buddy sour, but WOW. This was dangerous. I debated just loading him up and going home, but I wasn't sure I could safely get him in the trailer like that. I realize we need some retraining, but this was totally out of character. Question is if I try some tranquilizers on him, is it possible this will make him worse? He did listen too me somewhat, if I drug him and he gets agitated will all form of manner go out the window and me end up with a loose horse? He walks fine at home but I don't have any indoor area so when the weather is bad(rain, snow, high wind) we miss the rehab. I'd like to get him so that hen we are allowed to ride I have this option as a place to go. Several years ago I trailered him out for lessons and he was cool as a cucumber, both during private lessons and group lessons. What was this about? I told hubby and we plan to try again on Saturday morning with buddy in the round pen. Hoping no other borders show up. This woman was one of 2 that the owner told me uses the place.
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 - 12:28 pm:

Kathy, presumably Arthur is on stall rest, plus the hand walking - is that correct? If so, he likely has more energy than he knows what to do with and will find any excuse to get silly.

My mare is about as quiet as you can get - reacts to virtually nothing. However, a number of years ago, she was on 4 mos of stall rest, with gradually increasing handwalking. She turned in to a raving idiot by the end of the recuperation. Anything would set her off - a horse calling outside, even one of the barn cats sneezing would send her straight up in to the air. Towards the end of the heandwalking, before I received permission to put her back to work, I took to walking her with a lunge line, so that if she got wild, I could let out line to keep myself out of danger. I hated doing that because I knew it wouldn't help the rehab process, but she left me no choice. I started picking and choosing my handwalking times carefully (very early in the a.m. and very late at night) so that there would be less to set her off.

In the end, she healed just fine - she is almost 22 and still in full work, completely sound - but it was a nerve wracking process for both of us. Good luck!
Member:
klmcbri

Posted on Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 - 1:08 pm:

Fran,Yes Arthur is on "stall rest" which for us means he is outside adjacent to the lot that his buddy is in, but his "pen" is just a little bigger than a stall. I've been thinking about cutting back his grain, however he was about 200 lbs under weight when we initially had the US at OSU. He's 16.3 hands and a Trekhner. My vet said he should be about 1400 lbs. His wt from OSU was 1240 lbs. He is definitely losing top line muscle. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep working with him on this, I know he can be a good boy, he's just never been cooped up this long. He's normally out 24/7 except in winter when its really bad out. I was relieved that his leg was still cool this morning after his antics.
Member:
dres

Posted on Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 - 4:15 pm:

Kathy been there done that, rehab.. and its not easy or fun... a couple of things come to mind.. Like Fran said... i too picked the ''right'' time to do our hand walking.. after lunch when all horses had a full belly and would be less reactive .. that helped out... The other is my mare is now very buddy sour ... as i never left her alone in the barn .. she always had a babysitter... so now 4 years later she pitches a fit when her 'buddy' is ridden or just up at the barn to be groomed... i created a monster...

I used Ace for a while and that helped a lot .. gave it to her orally .. it took about 45 mins to get into her system and it lasted about 45 mins once in ..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
babychop

Posted on Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 - 9:59 pm:

Try adding LMF Gentle Balance to his feed, maybe take him off any alfalfa if he's on it. I have an Anglo Trakehner mare that had to rehab from a medial collateral ligament injury so I know what you're going through. She's usually the most mellow, best mare on the planet but once she's alert and excited, look out. Do you have Back on Track leg wraps to help stimulate the blood flow? They reflect the horse's own body heat back onto the site - I use them as overnight wraps for every leg injury along with hand walking & cold hosing (as well as tightening clays when needed) and am quite happy with the results.

I would suggest a goat but that doesn't always work, you never know, I'm currently rehabbing an OTTB and she as my little LaMancha that walks along with us and keeps us company, they just took to each other... Sometimes it just works out that way.

I hope some of this helps, I love the Trakehner breed, such an amazing horse, so full of heart. He's worth the effort, they are long lived - my old stallion made it to 29.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Feb 12, 2012 - 10:46 am:

Hello Kathy,
We have a whole article on this difficult subject that you will find at HorseAdvice.com » Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Stall Resting Horses.
DrO
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