Hoping for some input/advice on my mare’s injury. I am working with a vet but am really on the fence about what to do.
A few months back my 5 year old mare began to seem uncomfortable, no head bob, looked fine to everyone watching her go, but she felt weird under saddle. She was only in light work, mostly just WTC 4 to 5 days a week. Vet came out and did a full lameness exam and got a strong response to lower limb flexion on her front. The x-ray showed what was thought to be a small bone cyst on her pastern. Her PPE x-rays were clear in 6 months before that. We did an MRI to confirm and the report didn’t mention the bone cyst, but said there was a small fissure on the short pastern bone that may be interacting with the pastern joint as well as very mild pedal osteitis. Vets all thought pastern joint was the reason for the lameness.
We did stall rest with hand walking, pro-stride, and shock wave. We started light work again after 4 months, progressively building up from tack walking, to 2 minutes of trotting, to 5 minutes, until we got up to 10 minutes and she seemed uncomfortable again. Vet came back out and flexed her on that joint and we got a response.
Now what? Vet said maybe a surgery to fuse/stabilize the pastern joint or just turn her out for 12 to 18 months and see what happens. This is the first horse I’ve owned and my main concern is doing what is best for her. Any advice/insight/experiences with similar injuries would be greatly appreciated.
