Recovering from Collateral Ligament Injury

[yellow_rose]

I was just talking to the intern at our clinic yesterday and she was saying that at the most recent AAEP conference ther was a talk on MRI which had a highly negative connotation… MRI is extremely useful imaging technology but they are few facilities suited to equines and also few vets that know how to read MRI.

But yes, MRI is really the only definitive way to diagnose collateral ligament injuries especially in the hoof… the foot is full of tiny tiny structures that are incredible sensitive and can easily cause lameness…

I actually had to take my boarder’s horse for an MRI yesterday and remembered how much I DON’T miss doing that…

[Gunnar]

I posted earlier in the thread about Bodie! some of you were asking if anyone had a horse who went back to eventing, showing, jumping etc. Bodie had a tear, visible on U/S. He was lame for 10 1/2 months with stall and medium pen rest! 3 SWT early on that seemed to help until he got away from me one day. After that i avoided getting him out at all.

I did not have him rechecked for 6 months. I had no insurance (he is almost 18!) and had spent way to much. I just let nature take its course and gave him time. He did leap about some when he was out each day in the ring. We divided the indoor ring into sections and he got out each day and all night! Even now he lives out at night!

It has been over a year since we began riding him again. After about 6 months he began jumping again. He lives at an eventing barn and is out on that XC course 5 days a week, jumping 2 days a week. I do not jump him to high but that is due to my chickeness, not his injury. We did our first event last month!!

So there is hope to have your horses return to full work as a show horses. Bodie wears 1/2 rounds now and I make every moment in the saddle count!! :sadsmile:

To be honest when he tore a ligament in his knee it took 2 years to get him back to full work so I was used to having a lame horse!! He only had a few months inbetween these injuries that he was sound! I am knocking on wood as I type!! :sadsmile:

I hope you all have as good a results as I have had and I am keeping my fingers crossed for everyone!

[Flying_Hearts]

Guys, I need some encouragement I’m so lost as to what to do for my horse. His injury is in the hoof, and I certainly can’t afford MRI’s, so how am I supposed to be able to check his healing?? He’s currently had 6 1/2 months of stall rest and I’ve just begun handwalking him 5 minutes a day. He was a 4/5 lameness at the beginning, he’s now sound at the trot. So walking is probably a good thing at this point, right??

Really, I’m only so worried because the other day he threw a fit in his stall and his leg ended up a bit puffy again for the first time since the injury happened. It went back to normal in a few days but since then I’m scared

[Rubs_Not_Pats]

Flying Hearts,
Clearly your horse is improving. Don’t sweat the MRI. I was so fortunate that my horse had a lesion that showed on U/S BUT that is not the norm and frankly I was told by my vet that he never saw one that showed like hers did. I am a firm believer in the exercise if the horse is reasonably sound and comfortable. I think the weighted resistance really helped mine BUT do it with DRUGS. Mine lived on resurpine and ace any time she was taken out of the stall. I cannot afford to allow her to escape her handlers. Now we are back to cantering and she works about 40 minutes a day, WTC. I have even done a few flat lessons on her. I watch the footing and will give her a little more time before I ask her the next question…will you stay sound for poles? I have a feeling she is good right now but there is nothing wrong with taking it slow and cautious.

The resurpine will help you in the stall too. Get some! Also keep in mind, they can be very dangerous when cooped up as long as they have been, even with sedation. Have the pro’s handle it in the beginning. If they come off, you know you would have too and then you don’t spend the next however many months guilty about it.

Overall, sounds like you are heading in a good direction.

[Flying_Hearts]

Thank you Rubs. My guy is on Ace powder twice a day to keep him quiet in his stall, and he is fairly good handwalking so far as long as he’s on the Ace. He is only 3 and isn’t broke to ride, so there won’t be any riding rehab.

[Rubs_Not_Pats]

Flying Hearts,
Reserpine is much better than Ace powder. You can also give the injectible orally before work. The Ace powder leaves too much to chance. Plus there are some that will become hyperexcitable on it. In your case, why not take the chance and teach to ground drive now. I would see nothing wrong with doing the basics to get this horse broke, like saddling and bridleing now. I break mine early in thir two year old year, so I wasn’t thinking yours was unbroke, my bad, sorry.

[Flying_Hearts]

Can you tell me why Resurpine is better? He seems fine on the ace, but if there is something better I’m game. He actually has been bridled and saddle, and sat on one single time, but then was injured before we could progress any further. He’s still overly sensitive to the outside world after being in a stall for so long (he just got brave enough to leave the barn aisle and walk outside the other day after a few days of hanging out in the aisle). Long lining is a good idea, but I think I’ll wait until he’s up to a LOT more walking than 5 minutes a day - he still has his energetic moments and he’s very well behaved on the lead but I don’t want to risk anything happening with him on the long line where I have less control.

[Pippin]

Flying hearts, been there doing that with a young horse too… what i found to work well for me is to do our walking at the quiet time of day when the other horses were napping… usually after lunch * i have my horses at home so it helps not having the boarding activity around…
We started out after 7 solid months of stall rest 5 mins then adding 5 mins every other week… it is amazing how fast it will add up … I gave my filly liquid ace orally about 50 mins before we walked… as i bumped up her time i found i could use less and less of the ace, BUT still gave her some to take the edge off… We can’t afford a loose horse to start this game all over again…
We have a completely different injury but grave non the less… take it slow…

P~

[yellow_rose]

Resurpine builds up in their systems and is ideal for horses on stall rest, it keeps a steady low dose of tranq going through 24/7

It is a paste given orally

I bought a bunch to have on hand if my guy starting acting like a dummy… but he never did

I have had hit or miss results with Ace, it wears off pretty quickly and it seems a lot of horses respond to it differently, you will go broke using dorm… resurpine is definitely the way to go

[Rubs_Not_Pats]

Reserpine can also be compounded as an injectable and given every few weeks. I have not tried fluphen.

[Flying_Hearts]

I trotted him out in hand today for the first time since his leg got puffy and he’s slightly off at the trot now I’m so bummed, wish I knew what the right thing to do for him is but it’s anyone’s guess.

[Gunnar]

I suggest more time! Bodie was 10 1/2 months of rest! Like I said earlier he did leap about sometimes, slamming that bad foot on the ground but he survived in the end! I know it is frustrating but you must give it more time! :sadsmile:

I am so sorry for you all!

[Flying_Hearts]

Were you guys handwalking your horses if they were sound at the walk but off at the trot??

I wish I had some good vet advice, but it seems like they won’t give me straight answers, even if it’s an “I don’t know.”

[3Hanns]

FY- Yes- I was handwalking from day one…2 to 3X a day on flat/hard ground

[Rubs_Not_Pats]

Yes, I was told they must walk in order to get correct fiber allignment. My horse walked for a half hour twice a day, I think two weeks after stem cell. We really didn’t work her up to it, just did it. After we got back our first U/S, I was advised to start weighted rehab with a rider. We did that a little more gradually adding 5 minutes a day until we got to the hour and we did this for what seemed like FOREVER! I don’t know if she was sound at the trot, as I never checked until she was really ready to trot but I doubt it, as she was a little iffy at the walk. I was very discouraged. 3Hanns really helped me stay believing in her recovery. By the time we started trotting, she was sound at the walk but NQR at the trot. We constantly had to make changes to her program. She also goes in half rounds now.

I really think you need to get them out. If nothing more than for their sanity. Plus my horse is in great shape now. She is conditioned super from all that darn walking and trotting and as an extra bonus, my stamina has increased and my leg is super tight! I know it is hard for you, as your horse isn’t backed yet. If you can’t do this every day, get someone who can and pay them to do it. It’s basically what I did as my barn is 1 1/2 hours away from me.

[3Spots]

Per Carter, I started with 20 min daily handwalk the first month and 30 min the second month. I continued handwalk for the third month because I could not make up my mind if it was worth going up there for an U/S when he could only see a fraction of the ligament. I finally decided to skip the U/S and go straight to mounted walk. I started mounted walk at the 3.5 month mark, adding 5 min/week. We are up to 20 min mounted walk now, 25 min next week.

She was sound at the walk before the MRI diagnosis of 25% tear, and remains sound after. I have not tested her at a tight right circle trot, but will do so once I am up to 30 min of mounted walk. That will be at the end of this month, and I am sure I will be disappointed if she does not seem a bit better.

However, based upon Rubs experience, I am going with the logic that even though she might be off at the trot, I will still begin adding 5 min of trot each week and pay close attention as to whether she seems better or worse. The trot will only be straight lines in good footing and only for the length of the arena, walking the short sides. As long as she remains the same or better, I will continue. If she seems worse, I will back off and hold at the level of the prior week. If I cannot do any trot at all, I will just lengthen the mounted walk time and add more diversity to the footing, by going out on trail. and try trotting the next month.

We have easy fireroad trails right out the ranch gate. There is a small gradual hill that needs to be climbed to get there, so we will handwalk up and down that, but do mounted for the rest. I think I need to do this for her sanity, given that her main “job” for me is a trail horse.

Flying Heart, I don’t think you get to count the “stall rest” as part of your program. Your clock started ticking when you began the hand-walking and you have four months in front of you before you should expect to see healing. So mentally set your goal for April.

Carter only wanted you to start with 5 min of walking a day? Everyone I know that has a similar injury and has used him has gotten the same starting point of “20 min/day for the first month.” Just double-checking!

jan

[Bluehorsesjp]

My vet also said 20-30 minutes of hand walking a day from the very begining.I did cut him back to 10 minutes and have built bqack up on my own after I saw the MRI because the tear looks so scary.

Because of my horses age I might start mounted work after 4 months so nothing else goes south so to speak.I will know more after my recheck at the end of January.

At the moment I am at 11 weeks of stall rest and am walking about 20 minutes a day, unless I have piles of snow, or he is too insane. But I try to religiously walk at least 15. I have not Aced him yet, but am prepared to do so. Also I find that there are certain times of day when he is quieter. I walk right after breakfast when the other horse has been turned out and come home from work at lunch for another 10 minute walk. If I miss the lunch time one and try to walk around 4pm it doesn’t go so well.

The snow and itce issue is the hard part for me. He now has ice studs in so there is no slippage, and when everything is plowed I am fine and relaxed. If we get heavy deep snow that he has to push through I leave off until everything is plowed. I figure the snow is just deep footing.

Flying I am sorry you are getting no answers from your vet. I got the same treatment from my local vet, so I hauled over 3 hours to a good lameness vet and got answers and a program that I can follow. My vet here was just wishy washy about diagnosisng the problem. But I do realize that he really couldn’t make a call on this injury without seeing an MRI.

[Bluehorsesjp]

Gunner
How severe was Bodies tear? Was it off of the coffin bone? You are our success story so we need to know details. Sorry if these are in another thread.

Oh and Flying my horse was a 4 out of 5 when the injury first happened. Not sound at the walk in any way shape or form. He was sound at the walk 2 weeks into stall rest, but by then we had injected the coffin joint-my first vet thought it could be ringbone from the x rays. And yes I am worried about injecting steroids into a joint that has a ligament torn off of it. Cross your fingers that I don’t get calcification.

[Rubs_Not_Pats]

3 Spots,
I also gave up on straight lines after a little while. I was afraid I was beginning a pattern that would be difficult to break in the show ring. I don’t need my horse slowing down on the short sides. So instead, we went to long gradual. Now, we are back to short turns with no problems. I also varied the work, some sit trot, some extension work. If I don’t keep her interested, the only thing she becomes interested in is spooking on things outside the ring. Although I don’t use them in this mare (she shakes her head), earplugs could come in handy.

[Flying_Hearts]

I love you guys. I’m encouraged, and thanks for confirming what I thought but didn’t know - he needs to walk. I love this thread, I think I’d have gone crazy without it!