So the results came in from the mri... looks like collateral ligament damage most likely as a result of historic foot inbalance.
Bugger.
my first thought was panic - is this something i have done? Was my decision to try barefoot the cause? Well actually no. Even when I first started riding her she was wonkey and pulling shoes on the worst affected foot. I think she arrived broken. Barefoot may not have helped as she did wear her feet unevenly,but given she was on a short trim cycle as we constantly worked to counter this I don't think i made things worse.
Treatment options are limited turn out, walk strengthening exercises, catrophen injections, coffin joint injections, and remedial farriery.
I had a frank chat with the vet about the long term prognosis. She was rather garded about it. I asked her if, given sof is on loan to me technically, is it worth walking away, she said a lot of frustration and heart ache lies ahead.
Really difficult position for me. I had already decided they if the condition was progresive i would find her a breeding home and walk away. However bad i feel about this i cannot afford a second broken horse, and nick would not support me so i would have to put her down as soon as she was unfit for work. I just know i could not do that.
But ligament damage is not as clear cut. It might get better, it might get worse, it might be better and then resurface. I don't think i can take ownership now.
So what do i do? I could just hand her back, but i know her owners do not have the time to go through the strengthening program with her and so her outlook would be bleak. I could find her a breeding home, but no one would insure her to give her the teatment she needs so she would remain lame indefinatly. I feel i do owe it to her to stick through the next year to see if we can fix the damage, whilst it is still covered on insurance and them see. It does mean I have to pay for two horses i can't ride. Am i being fair to myself here?
The final option i would like to investigate is rockely farm. They seem to have a good track record with these conditions and i believe have a better outcome than traditional treatment.just not sure how much this would cost or how long their waiting list is.
I'm going to have to do a good bit of sole searching over the next few days. The vet wants to come back and do one final nerve block to be sure it is the ligaments that are the problem. I'll chat through the options with her then.
Bugger.
my first thought was panic - is this something i have done? Was my decision to try barefoot the cause? Well actually no. Even when I first started riding her she was wonkey and pulling shoes on the worst affected foot. I think she arrived broken. Barefoot may not have helped as she did wear her feet unevenly,but given she was on a short trim cycle as we constantly worked to counter this I don't think i made things worse.
Treatment options are limited turn out, walk strengthening exercises, catrophen injections, coffin joint injections, and remedial farriery.
I had a frank chat with the vet about the long term prognosis. She was rather garded about it. I asked her if, given sof is on loan to me technically, is it worth walking away, she said a lot of frustration and heart ache lies ahead.
Really difficult position for me. I had already decided they if the condition was progresive i would find her a breeding home and walk away. However bad i feel about this i cannot afford a second broken horse, and nick would not support me so i would have to put her down as soon as she was unfit for work. I just know i could not do that.
But ligament damage is not as clear cut. It might get better, it might get worse, it might be better and then resurface. I don't think i can take ownership now.
So what do i do? I could just hand her back, but i know her owners do not have the time to go through the strengthening program with her and so her outlook would be bleak. I could find her a breeding home, but no one would insure her to give her the teatment she needs so she would remain lame indefinatly. I feel i do owe it to her to stick through the next year to see if we can fix the damage, whilst it is still covered on insurance and them see. It does mean I have to pay for two horses i can't ride. Am i being fair to myself here?
The final option i would like to investigate is rockely farm. They seem to have a good track record with these conditions and i believe have a better outcome than traditional treatment.just not sure how much this would cost or how long their waiting list is.
I'm going to have to do a good bit of sole searching over the next few days. The vet wants to come back and do one final nerve block to be sure it is the ligaments that are the problem. I'll chat through the options with her then.
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