Broken coffin bone

[BroncoMo]

I really appreciate everyone’s input, experience, and stories. The big goof ball jumped his stall front a few days ago (what can I say, he loves to jump), but did not appear to aggravate the injury. Needless to say he has a taller stall front now.

I know some people swear by Equi-bone. I’ve never used it, but have used CalDensity and OCD pellets in the past for various other issues. I’m not sure I believe the hype, but it’s worth seeing if anyone has any miracle stories that will prompt me to go contribute to someone’s patent idea.

I do have Platinum Osteon on order, per the vets recommendation. I had wondered about adjusting his feed to increase uptake of biotin and calcium, but again unsure if it would help. Thought about giving alfalfa for extra calcium, but I’m not sure if it would make him hot. I don’t believe the hype around alfalfa making them hot, but don’t want to risk it since he’s never been stalled for much more than a week long show. So I would think if he gets a little goofy from a feed increase, the cons outweigh the pros of whatever extra calcium intake he may get from alfalfa.

Sounds like we’re on the right track though with supportive shoeing, Equi Pak, and long stall rest. It is great to hear that some of these horses returned to jumping!

[Donella]

My gelding broke his coffin bone and completely tore his collateral ligament on the hind foot as a two year old (kicked the stall in excitement coming in one day). He was almost non weight bearing. Did 4 months of stall rest, PRP and corrective shoeing (bar shoe with clips etc) and he healed and never took a lame step after he came off stall rest. He is 7 now and is in full work.

[BroncoMo]

[QUOTE=Donella;8230411]
My gelding broke his coffin bone and completely tore his collateral ligament on the hind foot as a two year old (kicked the stall in excitement coming in one day). He was almost non weight bearing. Did 4 months of stall rest, PRP and corrective shoeing (bar shoe with clips etc) and he healed and never took a lame step after he came off stall rest. He is 7 now and is in full work.[/QUOTE]

Donella,

Can you tell me more about PRP? I had not heard of it before so did some Googling. But more info from your experience would be appreciated!

[BroncoMo]

Wanted to give an update on Sonny. After 4 months of stall rest, resetting his clipped shoe every 4-6 weeks, and supplementing with Equibone, I can now say that he is 100% sound and living on full turnout (75 X 75 ish sized run) with just a normal shoe (no clips) and a hard cast glue. I was advised to give him a full shoeing cycle on full turn out, then start riding him. So will return him to work around mid-January.

The vet was impressed with the amount of bone regrowth in the short amount of time since the injury, and said he’s “about as healed as he’s going to be”. The crack where the fracture was is actually more dense than the rest of his coffin bone. Of course I can’t get the vet to admit that Equibone may have helped; the clinic endorses Platinum products, so may not get an unbiased opinion there (the vet otherwise totally rocks). Who knows, maybe he would have healed this quick with just the shoe and stall rest, but I’m a believer.

Either way, I have my best friend back and he’s a happy camper not being cooped up any more. We still may end up treating his coffin joint down the road, but right now there does not appear to be any issues, and we expect him to return to jumping.

Figured I’d give an update that may give others going through the same thing some hope.

[HealingHeart]

Congratulations, that was a tough trip for both you & your horse. Glad to hear you both have your freedom back a bit

[Texarkana]

Glad to hear it! Good job! See, coffin bone fractures are a piece of cake.

(I still wouldn’t wish coffin bone fractures upon even my worst enemy!)

[Doctracy]

I bet the Equicast and Eva pad/shoe and casting would probably be a good treatment.

[BroncoMo]

He has had the hard pack glue and a 5 clip shoe up until 2 weeks ago. Now just a plain shoe with the hard pack glue; I would have to look at my bill to be sure what it’s brand name is, but it is a hard cast-like substance that dries so hard, it has to be chipped and nipped out on the next shoeing. Very hard and essentially has made his hoof capsule in to a cast. Not sure if he’ll end up in pads long term; next shoeing he will get Equipack.

Yes Texarkana, piece of cake :lol: Nothing has helped my prematurely sprouting gray hairs. Worst of all was the day before I was to start light turn out, he broke out of his stall while I was at work and started turn out on his own. He was out for long enough to get snowed on and started icing over. But there was no way in hell he was going to stand in the shed (same shed his stall was in) under his own power.

Hopefully he keeps progressing. I thought he looked a little ginger this evening so I got him out and hand trotted him so I could prove to myself it was a figment of my imagination. His trot looks great. I think he’s protecting his hoof and doesn’t quite trust that it won’t hurt him. He seems to gain confidence in it the more I see him move around.

[GraceLikeRain]

What great news!

[BroncoMo]

Another update on my broken horse. I… wait for it… Rode him today! Climbed on for the first time since last May. I don’t remember exactly our last ride, but it just may have been the show that was both our first time showing over fences. I have been longing him some to get him a little bit back in to shape. I only rode him for 8-10 minutes but he did great, doesn’t seem sore at all; still doesn’t like to pivot on the injured foot, but I can’t say I blame him. He even remembered (more like I remembered) how to do clean lead changes, and gave me a few of those; praise the hunter/jumper gods. He is a happy boy to be back to work and all he wanted was to go forward; very hard to convince him he needed to trot some.

I’m not sure when I’ll start jumping him again, but he certainly needs to be legged up some more; he lost his athletic conditioning while on stall rest, and gets sweaty after just 5 minutes of work right now. So it’ll be a while, but I’m sure jumping will make him even more happy :yes:

[pony4me]

Thanks for the update! Over the years, I’ve gained valuable info on specific conditions, especially if the whole story is on the thread.

[starhorse]

[QUOTE=BroncoMo;8497634]
Another update on my broken horse. I… wait for it… Rode him today! Climbed on for the first time since last May. I don’t remember exactly our last ride, but it just may have been the show that was both our first time showing over fences. I have been longing him some to get him a little bit back in to shape. I only rode him for 8-10 minutes but he did great, doesn’t seem sore at all; still doesn’t like to pivot on the injured foot, but I can’t say I blame him. He even remembered (more like I remembered) how to do clean lead changes, and gave me a few of those; praise the hunter/jumper gods. He is a happy boy to be back to work and all he wanted was to go forward; very hard to convince him he needed to trot some.

I’m not sure when I’ll start jumping him again, but he certainly needs to be legged up some more; he lost his athletic conditioning while on stall rest, and gets sweaty after just 5 minutes of work right now. So it’ll be a while, but I’m sure jumping will make him even more happy :yes:[/QUOTE]

Sounds like he is feeling good. Have you talked to your vet about a reconditioning program? I’d hate to see him sustain a soft tissue injury or soreness after his lengthy rehab. Respectfully, the lead changes on the first ride back make me think you might be trying too much too soon.

[BroncoMo]

Yes I have. Curiosity may have gotten the best of me. We will take it slow (slower) in bringing him back. Granted under saddle is different than just roaming around the pasture, I’d be much more hesitant if he had been in a stall rather than with the two lively young geldings he lives with; they keep him very active.

Thank you all for the advice and support. The picture was quite bleak last summer and it was uncertain he’d ever be able to ride again.

[bjd2013]

A friend of mine had a horse break his. He was on stall rest for about 4 months, then limited turn out (maybe 1 hr) in a lame horse paddock. He had a heart bar with a plate. Vet came out every time farrier shod the horse. He was back fully in work in about 8-9 months and was horse showing. He returned back to the 3’6" hunters.

[OTTB2]

My OTTB fractured the tip of his coffin bone from a bad trip during one of his first shows. We are about 8 months on now and jumping 2’ fences with full intent and vet cleared for him to do 3’6 which is what we bought him to do. (he was very athletic and retired with 5 races) During our treatment a round pen no bigger than his tall was a huge help so he could munch grass and keep sane. Religiously pick his hooves. The worst thing is getting a bad case of thrush from all the stall time. Extra shavings in the stall because they make a mess when in 24/7. Hay bag to keep him occupied. If he does throw the multi clip shoe try your best to find it. Your farrier will love you for it and they cost a fortune. When you get under saddle for the first few cycles use a bar shoe of some sort with full pads to have the extra protection when first getting back into work. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

[Pennywell_Bay]

Congratulations. I, respectfully, caution about getting ahead of rehab. Please take your time and do not rush this “no matter how good he feels” to you.

No one want to undo all the lay up time etc that you have put in to rehabbing him. I would most definitely speak to your vet about a program to bring him back. (I am certain that lead changes within the first week of riding him wouldn’t be on it. )

Good luck.

[BroncoMo]

Thank you all for the continued advice. He will be out of commission for a bit again, but not because of his injury. He hung himself by a front pastern from a corner in a corral panel stall on Sunday. After I cut the chain to free him, he walked away fairly unscathed; two small cuts on his cannon bone, couple bumps and bruises, but is otherwise fine. He will obviously get some time to make sure nothing else shows up and recover from everything that I can imagine is hellaciously sore, and I think a few chiropractor appointments may be in order. I’m still trying to shove back in all the previous gray hairs he has caused me…

[BroncoMo]

update

I was able to take this gelding to his first show back since the injury. He has been in moderately-heavy work, getting finished over fences. We were able to do the 2’3"-2’6" schoolers. He did great. Handful of bobbles; we are both still fairly green over fences. But it was a great experience for both of us. Quite exciting considering a year ago, it was very possible that I’d never ride him again.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=BroncoMo;8761157]
update

I was able to take this gelding to his first show back since the injury. He has been in moderately-heavy work, getting finished over fences. We were able to do the 2’3"-2’6" schoolers. He did great. Handful of bobbles; we are both still fairly green over fences. But it was a great experience for both of us. Quite exciting considering a year ago, it was very possible that I’d never ride him again.[/QUOTE]

Nice to hear you report all is well now.

I expect you have a few more gray hairs, but all is well that ends well, right?

Thank you for the update.