Will my lovely horse be ok?

[Flixon]

Looking for reassurance her, I'm devastated.
Yesterday I went to ride my lovely pony. She was fine at a walk but as soon as she started to trot I felt her very unbalanced so I got straight off. Trotting her up she was very lame. We took a good look at her and she had a swollen hind leg - warm and seemed a bit tender. Hoof was cool, no cuts anywhere. This was about 6.30pm yesterday evening.
I just knew it was bad - I don't call the Vet for mild lameness with nothing to find but I called at 8am this morning. To cut a long story short she has a big tear in the lateral branch of her suspensory ligament, and a a small tear in the medial branch. She's on box rest for a minimum of 4 weeks and then very very slow rehab
Vet says if I follow the rehab plan she will be sound again and able o jump again - but I'm looking for any stories people have that will help to reassure me. She's 12 and a warmblood ....

I didn’t want to read and run and can’t offer specific reassurance as we’re in the first week of box rest after suspensory surgery on my daughter’s horse so I understand how nerve-racking waiting for recovery is. All you can do is follow the rehab instructions to the letter. I hope your lovely horse gets better.

Try posting on the horse and hound forum. Lots of knowledgeable people on there

I'm sorry to hear this - agree Horse and Hound forums are a good resource. Fingers crossed all goes well for you, if the vet is optimistic and you stick to the rehab plan (and have a good patient) I would have thought she stands a good chance of recovery...

I'm sorry to hear this
But trust your vet, he knows what he is saying
I wish her a speedy recovery

I had one with double hind leg suspensory damage. Long story short, after months and months of box rest and very careful rehab he came sound as a pound and was back out jumping and competing. However, following the rehab plan to the absolute letter and constant vet checks is vital. Also - the box rest can fry their brains and so you need to be very careful with how you handle turnout and walking in hand. I was lucky in that he was on a rehab specialist yard anyway and they took care of everything but he's not had a day's problem with his suspensories since and this is about 3/4 years ago now.

Just to add - the rehab plan would have been impossible without him being on a specialist rehab place because it had to be followed every single day, rain or shine, and he wasn't easy, especially once he started his ridden rehab! Having a totally unphased expert to handle him was a godsend. Well worth the money but they are all different and yours might handle the box rest and rehab like a saint.

Thank you so much that's really helpful. So far, with some toys and a lot of fuss, she's very calm in the box, and although she seems a bit 'bemused' about not going out, she's ok.

I've bought an ARC equine ultrasound unit that I will start tomorrow.

I am a bit concerned about the very very light initial work, as she's usually pretty 'bouncy' , but I'll cross that bridge when we get there

Can I ask how you got on? My boy has this now I think. Was your normal vet able to diagnose it? I’ve had a physio say that’s what it is

It's quite a common injury and most vets should be able to spot it - especially with those mobile scanners they use. And for the initial walking out post box rest - Sedalin and a chifney are your friend! Mine would have been back at square one within a week without them. Might seem a little harsh but they worked until he was walking out for long enough to calm down a bit.

My daughter’s horse is now back to cantering on hacks and schooling with lots of groundwork concentrating on balance and straightness. She had to be sedated for in hand walking for everyone’s safety and the first hack was rather hairy 😬 but she’s actually been better than we’d feared she would be (she’s very opinionated at the best of times) and calmed down a lot once she was allowed some turnout. My daughter has been taking the rehab as slowly and painstakingly as possible to minimise the chances of further injury and the vet is very happy with her progress.

Your vet may prescribe a mild sedative to be given before you bring out of the box for the initial exercise if he is likely to be too bouncy to do as asked.

As another poster said, follow vets instructions to the letter. My mare ripped her deep digital tendon, operation and a years box rest. Walking out in hand three twice a day, five minutes increasing to thirty minutes gradually. Some very hairy moments with four feet off the floor, at a walk. I later found camomile very useful to calm her down. Make it into a strong tea. Sedalin never worked for her it did dope her but she still moved quickly but had no control of her body and was quite dangerous. Kept her weight down by weighing her hay, soaking it and gradually feeding throughout the day.
After nine months I was shattered, and sent her away for re hab where she could be walked on horse walker rather than in hand for three months, I then had her back and rode her daily for nine months, roads only at a walk, she needed the harder surface to strengthen the tendons. She came back to work with no issues, I never used boots as recommended after the operation, as this can overheat the legs and always hosed legs down after any exercise, agin to keep them cool.
thankfully never had any leg issues with her again, it was a long time in rehab for me, but it worked. Good luck

We are walking out now 10mins twice a day on tarmac and 5 mins on soft ground. She's a horror on the soft ground (in the school) bargey, up on her hind legs and generally hard to manage. This is despite (today) 3ml Sedalin. But it is windy today ... she's been amazingly adaptable to being in - it's now almost 5 months -and is pretty calm most of the time - we have a vet review in 2-3 weeks for the next steps ...
once she is sound I'm wondering about turning her away over the winter ...