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  Discussion on Lower hind suspensory injury
Author Message
New Member:
Ngj17

Posted on Friday, Jul 21, 2006 - 8:15 pm:

Hi Dr. O,

I have a 15 yr old paint mare with a suspensory injury on the inside right hide at her sesamoid bone attachment. The injury was first notice in late Sept 2005 because her right hind fetlock became very swollen and hot. I have had many ultrasounds performed by a local vet since her injury last Sept to monitor her healing progress. The vet says her healing is going well but she is not 100% yet and it has been 10 months since her original injury.

I have reviewed your rehabilitation protocol on-line and noticed that you recommend hand walking and then walking in the saddle then trotting in the saddle. My vet is insistent not to get on the horses back until the following have been completed without swelling: Hand walking working up to 30 minutes; Next work up to hand trotting on the lunge in large circles until I get up to 15 minutes; Next I can get on her back and work up to 30 minutes of walking.

But I am having extreme difficulties keeping my mare calm and not acting silly on the lunge when I trot. In May 2006 she had a minor set back in her injury because she freeked out on the lunge and galloped for a few minutes. I have tried using Ace prior to lunging and sometimes this helps but it is difficult to get the correct dose so that she isn’t soo slow or too crazy. Because of my lunging issues at the trot I haven’t been able to get her up to 15 minutes at the trot so the vet still says do NOT get on her back. My vet says that my mare can not handle balancing someone on her back but trotting on the lunge is OK. I noticed that my vet’s rehabilitation program is different than your protocol because you recommend getting on their back prior to trotting on the lunge. Can you explain why you recommend getting on the horses back prior to lunge at the trot? Do you NOT recommend trotting on the lunge for rehab? How do you know when to increase the work-out? Do you use heat/swelling as a guide? It has been ten months since her original injury, should she be further along in her rehab?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 24, 2006 - 6:25 am:

This protocol was specifically developed for rehabbing flexor tendinitis Nicole and done with the review of thousands of records to maximize outcome. We do not have any similar study with the specific injury your horse displays. As a result rehab schedules will vary based on individual experience and quite frankly don't know what might be optimal.

Your vet is right not to allow the horses progress continue until you complete the last step without signs of increasing damage but as to whether your horse is having more stress with lunging at the trot on circles or walking under saddle is a close call particularly when you factor in the control issue. I don't have an answer for you other than that stated in the introduction of the protocol: The tables included provide general guidelines for exercise; the method of achieving similar workloads at the various stages of healing may be tailored to suit the behavior and training level of the horse and rider. For example, a racehorse might be exercised in a controlled manner by ponying (being led by another horse and rider) rather than being ridden.
DrO
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