Hey everyone, I have a question for you guys. I was just ready to start handwalking my 3 year old (who has an injury to either a tendon or ligament in his hoof, so not visible without an MRI which I can’t afford). He started having fits in his stall (he’s now on ace powder). But before I could get him on ace, he managed to get himself all sweaty and worked up one day in particular, and the next day his leg was a bit puffy - not bad - it looked just like it when he first injured himself. After maybe 2-3 days the swelling went down completely and it’s been about a week total since that day it first swelled up. So, the question is do I wait or do I go ahead and start handwalking anyway? He’s already been on stall rest for about 6-7 months at this point (I’d have to look it up, I can’t remember off the top of my head).
Collateral Ligament Injury
3 Hanns,
Thanks for the reply. I am so happy for you. My horses coffin bone is also involved. So I have a tear and an injured coffin bone. A lot of healing has to happen. How long was your rehab? What kind of riding do you do? I ride dressage.
My horse also had special shoes. Egg bar with pads, quarter clips and toe clip. Used as a cast. I have her reshod every 4-5 wks.
I am hanging in there because I really, really, really like my horse and would love the chance to ride her again, she was only under saddle one year.
Thank you for the support. I will let you know how the recheck goes. At least its after xmas.
Dance,
My horses injury involves his coffin bone. I am close to you on the time line however, so I can’t offer any thing. I am just on the stall rest phase myself. I will defiantly keep everyone updated.
Today was very frustrating. We have had snow, warm weather with melting, more snow, so toady when I went to walk my horse down the driveway the footing sucked. My plan was to rehab at home for the first 4 months of stall rest, but now how am I going to get the hand walking done. Not to mention that with the recent snow I can’t get a trailer even close to my house right now. Ugh I feel totally unable to cope with this rehab right now. Just one of those minor set backs I guess.
What do I do about icy, slushy footing? Is it ok to walk him on that? It isn’t the most even footing in the world
Yellow,
How was your horses first day of turnout? His clinical signs are similar, but more severe than my horse’s. Since my horse isn’t getting the same treatments as yours I hope that it is a good sign.
And 3haans,
Thank you for the hope.
I will keep everyone updated as well. My next recheck is at the end of January.
longer and laser
what does the vet say? it has been my experience with soft tissue injuries that , it is best to err on the side caution,:yes: ie., a longer :yes:rather than shorter :no:period of rest I also have had very good success with a laser :yes:and would not want to be without one :no:
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avoid soft footing, firm to hard is your :yes:friend.:lol:;be especially careful of areas which may be deeper, especially with holes :eek:or divot,s even just a hoofprint.or slightdepression :yes::no:
Well to give you all even more hope…My Mare’s first & 2nd re-check were not great- she was still lame at the trot…I don’t remember the exact length of time that had passed but it was a L-O-N-G time probably around 4 months at this point.
At her 3rd re-check, her u/s showed complete healing ( I was soooo happy)…then the vet trotted her in tight circles, and she was still showing a little lame. I was in complete denial at this point 
…I was sooooo sure she would be sound. I was so sad, and vet was concerned…At this time- she WAS due for shoes…this was also around the time we injected the coffin bone.
Anyways, I made the vet come back after she was shod about 2 weeks later, and she was sound as can be…and has been ever since…
***also I wanted to add, we did not start any trot work at all until the u/s showed complete healing…the trot work started at only 5 min. a day (the rest walk) and gradually increased by about 5 more minutes each week, as time went on…
I feel that this injury takes sooooo incredibly long to heal, but you’ll get there 
can laser’s go through hoof walls?
Trying very, very hard to stay on hard level ground, but with th esnow it is getting pretty hard. unfortunately my barn aisle is a whopping 5 stalls long, really not long enough for a hand walk.
first day of turnout went GREAT
except he almost foundered when he looked at the grass outside :eek:
Yesterday was a little rainy but I decided to throw him out for an hour anyway. Purposely put the pipe corral on the dirt at the end of the gravel road between 2 of my paddocks so we have to walk down the hard surface to get there, mixed his cocktail… threw some hay in there, put a buddy out in the paddock next door…
I was suprised how well he was walking! Very stiff…but pretty dang sound! He was totally quiet… luckily he is a big WB fatty lumpkin so he just went straight for the hay.
Maybe today we’ll try 2 hours??? 
This injury is so devastating… sounds like for all of us 
It takes such a long time to heal and it’s so complicated to monitor. It makes me feel better whenever I’m around my guy to know that he’s not alone dealing with this :sadsmile: ok SAPPY but true!
To the person with slush, no way would I take that chance. One bad step and you are starting over. Leave off and wait until it melts or walk on asphalt.
To the person with the sedation issue, I would strongly suggest you get Resurpine from your vet and give it as directed, then get a bottle of ace and squirt it in the mouth as directed by your vet 1/2 hour prior to activity. I have found this the best solution. Also, I am going broke on stall treats to keep her quiet.
3Hanns, Rubs also has a high/low heal and the injury was in the right front medial on the high heal. This was never mentioned anytime as part of the problem. She is religiously shod at 4 weeks with half rounds and a flat pad on that foot. The low heal gets wedged, as we can’t make it seem to grow heel no matter what we do. She was not born with conformation, it was brought on by bad shoing at two and a half years old. Now in response, I have 2 different size front feet. The smaller one, is the injured one.
Rubs- My mare has 2 different sized feet too- one she wears size 4 shoe, the other a size 3. Her smaller one is the injured one as well…interesting!
At one time she did have MAJOR pads…but now she wears regular shoes, w/ no pads. The new farrier said to remove the pads to grow more heal on the lower foot.
Off track- she is colicing today…so please think positive thoughts for her. Vet came and gave her a shot of Bandamine, so I am praying that does the trick…
I was just at Alamo w/ my baby horse a couple months ago for colic (he turned out to be fine as soon as he went on fluids), so am I hoping I do NOT have to go back…although it is a great hospital!
Collateral Ligament Injury
3Hanns.
Did it take your horse 180 days to show soundness? At 120 days was your horse showing some improvement or none at all. I am at 110 days I could’nt stand it any more so I trotted her a few steps, as I suspected she is still lame. I will have my vet recheck at the end of the month.
She was so stupid in her stall today bucking, rearing, jumping and that was after handwalking for 30 mins. I don’t know how she is suppose to heal while acting like that. How do you keep a four year old quiet?
My vet suggested that I give her bran with mineral oil every day. She stated that sometimes horses on stall rest get small impactions which can lead to colic. Justed started that is seems to make her want to drink more.
Did you use Carter at Almo? That is where I had my MRI done. I am trying so hard to stay positive but its getting harder every month.
Dancer- Yes- it took about 180 days to show soundess, maybe more…I don’t remember the exact timeframes but it was a LONG time. She did show a little improvement at 120 days but was still lame at he trot. Once the u/s showed some healing, she was progressively better, as time went by…but it took a LONG time
My mare who has the injury is 9 YO…the baby I was referring to who coliced and went to Alamo is my 4 YO gelding (different horse). My mare was colicy today, but was much better tonight
As for dealing w/ stall rest…she was VERY good in her stall. During handwalking she could get a little fresh…but manageable. I did not need to ace her, but I know Rubs swears by this, so maybe give something like that a try. She had LOT’S of stall toys. My favorite’s were pony pops www.ponypops.com, and this hay bag www.busyhorse.com
The vet at Alamo who saw my baby for colic was Dr. Erin Byrne…whom I LOVE, she was so great My mare did not go to Alamo (she was not MRI’d)- she was treated at her boarding facility.
I just ordered pony pops for my boy. He is being a star about his stall rest, but has started to bite at me and hunt the dogs on our walks. He has definalty lost his sunny disposition and is completely bored right now. He is not a big hay eater and prior to this would always leave some. I will try the hay bag as well, just to give him something to do…
And yes Yellow this is a devestating injury. I am so glad your boy enjoyed his first day of turnout.
How do you monitor this injury? Did anyone do a second MRI? What were your follow ups like? My horse is sound at the walk right now. We walk 15 minutes down the driveway once a day. I won’t jog him until the recheck at the end of January, so I don’t know how he is doing.
Also his tear is by his coffin bone, I don’t think that can be seen with an ultra sound, so how do we know if he is healing?
I am calling the vet tomorrow as I need some advice about the snow, ice, slush issue. I could not have a worse place to rehab my horse than my house in the winter.
BlueHorsesjp,
My tear is at the coffin bone, too, and I debated on a second MRI, and actually checked out a standing MRI facility for pricing. What I found: no one really does a second MRI. Once they know the problem, they seem to rely on a conservative backtowork plan and clinical results.
That said, I have simply decided to stick to the conservative plan until I see something get worse, and if I do, then back off for awhile and try again. I haven’t trotted my girl out either, but will do so before we begin trot work – just so I’ll know if she is getting better or worse.
Your situation of slush/ice – wow. That is really tough. I have done ALL my handwalking for the first four months on firm dirt roads. I haven’t even handwalked in the arena because I think the footing is too deep. I cannot imagine how to do it when nature isn’t cooperating. Post if your vet gives you good ideas.
Second the haybag with the small holes… I got just a cotton string one from dover and it worked great. My fatty didn’t make a peep for 7 months.
The only follow up I have done so far was more radiographs to look at the coffin joint. Doubt I will do another MRI since my non-surgical insurance has run out Will probably get another US done now that the swelling has dissipated, but his injury was so far down in the hoof MRI is really the only was to get down there. Day by day you know…
Blue – where are you located?? Any rehab facilities close by?
3Hanns,
Glad to hear she is feeling better. Colic sucks!
Lisa
My horse had a collateral ligament injury and after trying numerous shoes, pads , etc I finally pulled his shoes and put him out to pasture for 9 months and he has come back completely sound! For me, patience and mother nature were the key. He returned to work very slowly but is now jumping and doing everything he did before the injury. I am primarily a pleasure rider so not a whole lot is demanded of him but I never thought he would be able to return to jumping. There is hope…hang in there and be patient:) Good luck!
Amy
I guess Amy’s post brought something to light for me. There is a huge difference between a horse returning to work as a pleasure horse and one who is expected to do high performance, like eventing, jumpers and or serious show hunters 3’6 and above. I guess I want to know if anyone has got theirs back to that level. I’d still love my mare to death if she was a lawnmower but I’d appreciate her more if she could do the job I intended.
yellow,
I am going to look into rehab facilities, but so far have found nothing close by.
the main problem is I can’t get a trailer up my rode right now, so I would have to walk down the plowed slippery road, which is downhill to get my horse out.
I’m in CO, so if any of you know anywhere close please let me know.
We plowed today, so I won’t have frozen divots and deep spots. Crossing my fingers that tomorrow’s walk is easy and not so worrisome to me.
Hoping to talk to the vet tomorrow for real.
Rubs, when the vet was looking at my horses MRI he did say he had a horse/client who was jumping again a year later after a “severe collateral ligament tear”. I didn’t ask how high, or how sucessfully, but did take that in. I too would like to know of other horses that have gone on to be show horses after this.
Do you think the research is scanty as MRI’s are fairly new? I had never heard of this type of injury until recently and I think it is mainly through MRI’s that it is being “discovered”…so where does that leave all of us.
I too will accept if my horse is a lawn ornament-but I still need a bit more time to try ot get used the idea that I may never jump him again. Right now it is too painful to face that fact.
I am so there with you. And I actually pulled her out of her mother too. It’s been very tough but as of late I have been encouraged.
