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  Discussion on 15 yr old Arab/Quarter Horse mare with ligament problems
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Posted on Monday, May 3, 1999 - 6:19 pm:

Hi there,

Last summer, my mare tore her left front check ligament (confirmed by ultrasound) and was out of riding work for months except for some walking in the last few months. We gradually altered her shoeing so both front feet have the same heel height and a greater slope angle. In the past month I started trotting her for about 5 minutes twice a week in addition to walking. The check ligament had healed well and was just thickened in appearance now.
Well, this weekend I came to see her and as soon as I started to trot, she was very lame, grunting with each step, wouldnt' go any faster, and it seemed to be her left back leg. I immediately took her in the barn and checked all her legs. Her left rear ankle on the inside, towards the back, when pressed would make her visibly flinch. She has a large, old calcified "bump" there which had developed when I used to jump her in schooling shows years ago. Though she is the picture of health, she is base narrow behind and brushes behind. I asked them to put her on bute for 3 days and to turn her out with ankle brushing boots again. But I fear this could be a suspensory or sesamoid ligament tear or re-injury. Any ideas or suggestions? If she isn't noticeably better by tomorrow I'm calling the vet in for an ultrasound of her ankle. She's been sound all her life despite her bad back leg conformation and left front club foot, but now that she's 15 everything seems to be happening with her legs even though she is barely ridden. I also dislike my blacksmith as he does not seem very knowledgeable, and let her left front heel get 1/3 higher than her right front heel last year, but am moving her to a new barn with a better one where I don't have to spell it all out.
What is the prognosis for whatever her injury sounds like? It's definitely not from overwork!

Posted on Tuesday, May 4, 1999 - 4:35 pm:

Hello Erin,
Let's wait for the diagnosis and then we will start talking prognosis.
DrO
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