Strengthening the fetlocks

[gully_s_pilot]

Ok, everyone. Beloved Sarah has strained her right hind annular ligament, which is a ligament that wraps around the back of the fetlock. Since she was never actually lame, just began refusing to pick up her right lead or collect at the canter, it took us a bit to figure out what was happening. We’ve since done 3 shockwave treatments 2 weeks apart. She responded quickly and well to the first treatment, then regressed a bit–I was down in Florida and although I was following the treating vet’s advice I would say I asked her to do too much to soon. So, I’m being more conservative now. But my local vet has just gotten a shockwave machine and doesn’t have much to say about her rehab.

Opinions? Advice? I’m confident in the initial diagnosis and treatment, I just need to figure out how best to go forward.

[Abbie.S]

Do you have access to asphalt/pavement? If so, start walking her on it daily. Go for hacks on it. Trot on it. It’s now your best friend.

If you don’t, find the firmest working surface you can and work with that.

Horses who have any sort of lower leg injury, i.e. tendon/ligament injuries, generally require firmer work surfaces to avoid stressing the joints or causing torsion of the leg during movement. The harder the surface, the more concussive force on the limb. This is fantastic conditioning for tissues whose primary function is to absorb shock, which is what the tissues of the lower leg do in addition to facilitating movement.

[beowulf]

I agree about conditioning and loading on pavement but you have to take it very, very slow. Even with a horse without injuries. Talk to your vet first about it.

Additionally talk to your farrier if you are going to do loading on pavement. Trotting on asphalt shears off soles and toes on the barefoot horse.

[Auburn]

After getting the OK from Dr. Garrett at Rood and Riddle, I started Tess on road work to strengthen her left front suspensory.

I began with short walks of about 15 min. every day. I worked up to a half hour, then began to add short, slow trots, always in a straight line. I did this kind of work for 2 months, before I trotted in the indoor.

It has been a year, since the injury. I jumped Tess last week. So far, so good.

When I spent some time in England, I learned about doing road work. I was shocked that they trotted down the pavement, since we had never been taught to do that in Alabama. I truly believe it works.