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  Discussion on Check ligament was cut on a horse i am looking at buying
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 13, 2000 - 11:46 pm:

I am looking at buying a 4 year old TB mare who has good conformation, a great temperment, is smart, and very willing to work. Problem, she was bred to be a race horse, but was never raced because her check ligaments were too tight. The previous owners opted to cut them instead of doing the usual braces and bandages.

She has since been with a gal who takes great care of her and has put numerous hours of training on the flat and over small jumps. I would like to purchase this horse as a dressage mount, but would like to feel comfortable about selling her as a hunter in a couple of years if i get into the higher levels of dressage.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I have been told that this horse could easily be used for jumping fences under 3'-9" but anyting over that would be questionable and could lead to arthritis.

Help me!!!
Jinny

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2000 - 8:01 am:

Hello Marci,
Was her proximal (superficial flexor accesory ligament) or distal (deep digital flexor accessory ligament) check ligament cut? How long ago was the surgery done? How has the horse done since the surgeries?

The prognosis is pretty good for either but may be a hard sale on the resell.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2000 - 10:29 am:

Hi Dr O. -

Thank you for responding so quickly, I really appreciate it!

I do not know which ligament it was - i can tell you the point at which the surgery was done is at the top of the cannon bone in the back (on the front legs only). I believe the surgery was done shortly after her birth - making it about 4-1/2 years ago. After she was weaned, she was put out to pasture for two years, and then sold to the gal that i am look at buying her from. It appears that she has been very well taken care of and i have been told that she has never taken a lame step. I did notice that the toes on her shoes were worn down - could this be because she does not pick up her feet bechase of this surgery, or because she just needs new shoes? The farrier that this gal is using seems to shoe all of her horses a little long in the toe.

If I buy her will this surgery be a cause for concern with everything i do with her?

Sorry for asking so many questions - i really appreciate your help!!

Marci

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2000 - 4:58 pm:

That is the location for the deep digital flexor accessory ligament also called the inferior check ligament or distal check ligament. Like I say, the prognosis for these horses is supposed to be good. There are no published long term studies looking at these cases so we have to go on personal experience at this time. I don't think it is the cause for dubbing the toe.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 14, 2000 - 5:16 pm:

Dr. O,

Thanks again for getting back to me so quickly! i love this service!! I spent my lunch hour researching and got several books that had information on the subject, and have also talked to 3 vets in my area - all say that if there is no sign of lameness and no swelling or big bumps at the point of surgery, they would feel comfortable purchasing the horse themselves. One vet even told me that she performs this procedure on hunter jumpers all the time and has never had a problem with soundness afterwards. I think that when the vet checks her tomorrow, i will spring for some x-rays just for my piece of mind!

I will let you know what the vet says -

Marci
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