Experience with SDFT?

[crossmyheart444]

I have a mare who just got her 3rd superficial digital flexor tendon tear on the same front leg. Looking to see if any others have had the same experience/what you did.

She is 12 years old and was previously high level hunter jumper. The first 2 tears (both completely healed) were rehabbed slowly and carefully, about 9 months each including stall rest, slow riding rehab, stem cell, shockwave, etc. She does not show signs of DSLD.

At this point we are just slowly trying to get her back in turnout to see if she can be retired/become a broodmare despite having a current tear. Curious if anyone else has had same experience or knows of a vet specializing in this area. TIA.

[Amberley]

From experience the first thing I’d do is u/s the other three legs and up above the kneeto see if there are more issues there. Some horses have connective tissue problems.

If not I think you are on the right track. If she keeps tearing the same tendon there is a reason, shes got bad shoeing, or scar tissue or a conformation fault or an injury elsewhere that is stressing that tendon or she just needs a year or two off in a pasture to fully heal it

I would have a Meagher certified myofascial specialist work on her once to see if they find any adhesions elsewhere too.