Fibrotic myositis?

[ClaraLuisa]

Hi everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving!

I am giving cautious thanks for a vet report this morning. But since it involves a condition I’ve never heard of, would value hearing of others’ experiences.

My dressage pony (7 yo warmblood) started being sticky picking up right-lead canter about three weeks ago. Somewhat later, we noticed that he had a bit of odd motion in this right hind at walk. Quite subtle–sort of picking the hoof up and then dropping it a bit short. I thought the canter thing was basically my lousy riding.

But we asked our excellent vet to take a look when he had a chance. That was today. After examination, he associated problem with a mystery injury Pony sustained last year at about this time–we think he slipped in the paddock. Lame in the right hind, high up, at that time. Treated with stall rest and came sound in about a month.

Vet now feels we are looking at fibrotic myositis related to the injury. Totally trust this vet, who has deep expertise in lameness. But
can’t see much on-line and of course as an anxious horse mom I am looking for as much info as I can get!

[Ghazzu]

Try searching fibrotic myopathy.

[Bekinder]

I have some experience with fibrotic myopathy and with my mare you could feel the spot of the initial injury on her “hamstring” almost at level with the end of the bone in her tail. It was very hard and felt like a knot but amounted to scar tissue. We elected for surgery in an attempt to correct the strange movement (which sounds very similar to what you have described) but we knew that the odds of it working were not great (50/50) and, in the end, the strange movement remained. Each vet was very careful to remind us that it was a mechanical lameness and not likely painful though it could cause stress to other areas. They corrected us when we used the word “sore” to describe what we were seeing.
She was useful and happy but I did not show her once this issue surfaced. I’d be happy to share more details of my experience if you feel it would help you.

[ClaraLuisa]

Thank you Ghazzu and Bekinder.
What I can see online seems to relate mostly to small animals, and some sites call this a progressive condition, which is scary.
Now waiting for a discussion of possible therapies with vet. He is not suggesting surgery because of the low success rate. He’s also advising no changes in the pony’s work program-- but this feels like an area of uncertainty–
So it’s unsettling. He’s 100% in trot, and once he catches the canter.
Bekinder, would greatly appreciate hearing about your experience @

[Bekinder]

It sounds like it may have been a very similar initial injury. With thought my mare may have slid to a stop running in the mud but we can’t be sure. Prior to surgery we tried shockwave therapy on the spot of initial scar tissue as well as chiropractic and some Bowen-type therapy. We (under guidance of the vet) tried stretching and massaging the affected leg (concurrent with the above) with little success. Our vets recommended some Traumeel (to rub), arnica, and blue-green algae and we did have her on Proacta all along, Equioxx in later years, and gave her Polyglycan injections to make her most comfortable. After her surgery, the difference in her gate was positive and we did our best as far as following the directions of the vet went but her funny step ended up very similar to prior to surgery. We would have greatly benefitted from having some hills to walk during her recovery but we had no such thing.
I never showed her again believing she would never pass a jog but she was very active, fun and useful at home. i hope you pony’s outcome is as you hope it to be.

[ClaraLuisa]

Bekinder, thank you so much for sharing your experience. It sounds like you did the full court press for your mare, and I am glad to hear she stayed happy in work at home.
The range of opinion I have heard is pretty broad…everything from “so what” to “stop riding that horse right now.” A little bit overwhelming!
Thanks again.