My horse sustained bilateral hind suspensory injuries last summer. He is a 24 year old Trakehner that was in full work, just no jumping, and doing well. We do not know why it happened but it did. We did shockwave and he has been on stall rest with hand walks. He also gets to wonder in the aisle during the day for a few hours when the other horses are out. It is flat and goes about 3 stalls long. He only walks but he gets out of his stall. I have also used ice vibe boots and now back on track boots. The initial swelling is not completely gone but he is feeling better. reultrasounded 8 months after with improvement but not enough to start tack walking. He gets to hand graze every day weather permitting. The pasterns have dropped significantly also.
At his age and how severe the injury has anyone had a horse come back from this just to be able to w-t-c and go out in a field with a friend? His buddy of 5 years was just put down. He was 30 and colicked. Any info would help. Thanks
So sorry! I have seen horses with significantly dropped fetlocks do well for several years in a pasture retirement situation. I have not seen one go back under saddle successfully unfortunately, although I would never say never.
I hate to ask, but has your vet ruled out Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD)? Your horse’s symptoms sound similar to my own horse’s who was diagnosed with DSLD last April. I had a specialist in to diagnose mine, but at that time, it had progressed enough to see the change on ultrasound. I unfortunately decided to retire my horse.
I would be very suspicious that he has ESPA.
Just to clarify – you’re 8 months out without significant healing and he still has swelling?
I’m sorry to say, but that does not sound good at all. My horse had a chronic suspensory injury on his hind leg and I got the swelling down in a matter of weeks. He also showed a lot of healing on ultrasounds after each 30 day checkup following shockwave.
If his fetlocks have dropped, I’d be inclined to think it’s DSLD unfortunately.
I think you’ll get the most out of your horse by retiring him. It sounds to me like whatever you do, his suspensories are going to continue to be aggravated and break down.
I am so sorry. Clearly also I’m no vet… but you should have a lot of improvement 8 months out. 
Have you tested him for Cushing’s? If positive, it can negatively impact healing.
Agree about the DSLD above, but understand if the horse was consistently being ridden incorrectly with poor shoeing, it can impact one or both hinds as well. Have you had a new farrier work on him in the few months prior to injury?
Nuts… just saw your comment that his pasterns have dropped
I don’t think a full recovery is realistic. Might want to adjust your expectations. Iv’e known similarly aged horses with hind suspensory issues that have improved with corrective shoeing, pergolide and supportive therapies. But they never advanced much beyond tack walking with 5 minutes trot work.
