Suspensory ligament

My target was to qualify for the Summer Regionals and I needed to win another Novice Restricted section. I entered Hartpury at the end of March. Unfortunately it was not possible to organise any lessons until the weekend of the competition at Hartpury. I therefore decided to have an intense weekend and have a lesson on Friday and also on Saturday and compete on Sunday (but only one test). On Saturday evening I was exhausted but adrenalin for the competition kept me going. The plan worked Razz was fantastic. Based on the judges comments from the Regionals we did a lot of work getting Razz in front of my leg and it worked. It was the most forward going test I have done on him. The result was fantastic – 66.66% and 1st Restricted so Razz qualified for the Summer Regionals. Brilliant. Almost all 7s for the trot work and all 6s for the canter work so clearly based on the judges comments and the scores I need to improve the canter and the transitions.

I won but I also lost …

The vet saw him first on 9/4/09 and initially recommended turn out and rest. He then spent two days (23rd and 24th April 2009) at the vets having lots of nerve blocks and x-rays of his near fore. The vets assessment was “initial trot 2/10 lame right hind in straight line. Lunge – 3/10 left fore on right rein. 1/10 left fore on left rein on soft lunge. Repeat trot in straight line – sound behind, 2/10 lame left fore”.

The vet then did lots of nerve blocks and the diagnosis is suspensory ligament damage which means lots of box rest. Unfortunately the vets ultrasound scanning machine was broken so the vet is vague about how much rest but it is probably going to be around 6 months – it will not be less than 3 months. He will go back the vets for a scan when the machine has been fixed.

Depressing – all over the summer and no chance of going to the Regionals… but looking on the bright side the vets prognosis is for a full recovery. Poor Razz will be locked in the stable all over the summer as well – he will be very bored. The vet thinks that I will be able to ride him in walk at some stage during the recovery. The first time I do that it will be very exciting after so much box rest!!!

On 14th May Razz went to the vet for a scan. The good news is that the suspensory ligament in his near fore has no visible damage so he has obviously tweaked it rather than doing some major (visible) damage. The vets assessment is that Razz is now only “2/10 lame left fore on right rein” so there is a visible improvement since Razz was 3/10 lame on right rein on his first visit to vet in April.

Razz is being very well behaved while on box rest. I have got into a routine of taking him some fresh grass every day followed by a massage using the Equissage hand unit. I have discovered that there is an attachment which lets you attach the hand unit to the lower leg for ligament problems. I am also using cold bandages a couple of times a week. Basically anything that will stimulate blood supply to the lower leg.

I am also picking his feet out very thoroughly and using cider vinegar once a week to prevent any problems with thrush. He has got a treat-ball and I have discovered that he likes swedes. I think I am doing everything I can to help the injury get better, avoid any secondary problems and also to relieve the boredom.

To relieve my own boredom I am riding at Talland every Saturday and doing hill work on a friends Eventer. I have just received Razz’s qualification letter from British Dressage for the Summer Regionals …. frustrating – we, obviously, will not be going !

The vet was very pleased with Razz’s recovery. The scan on 26th June 2009 revealed that the suspensory ligament is repairing itself at the top of the ligament. The rest of the ligament lower down looks in good condition with nice strands. The vet recommends two weeks of walking in hand twice a day for 15mins for 2 weeks. Then after 2 weeks he is happy for me to ride him – although still only in walk and over 4 weeks increase to 30 minutes twice a day. Then back to the vet to check on his recovery.

Razz has been on box rest for 9 weeks and has behaved very well but got extremely excited when going to the vet. Initially he did not want to load and then had to be doped at the vets because he would not stand still. Following the vets recommendation I have been leading him around the 20×60 arena. While walking I have been letting him roll. Unfortunately he went down too close to he fence rolled right over and got his legs caught up in the fence. He kicked around and managed to roll back over. Luckily I had put boots on all round and the rear ones did protect his legs from damage but he did manage to rub the fur from the inside of his hocks. I cold hosed for a few days but I think the damage is only superficial. I was very lucky. I do not allow him to roll any more!

I have been walking Razz for 7 weeks. I have introduced circles, lateral work and transitions. This has helped to relieve the boredom for both of us. I have taken him on a few hacks but he has a tendency to spook and trot or canter off. I obviously pull him up as fast as possible while also trying to keep his head up (!). I have not done that many hacks so that he does not damage the suspensory in his excitement at getting out of his stable. However, at the vets on 14th August he trotted up sound in a straight line and also in a circle on both reins. So all that walking was all worth it and the scan showed an excellent recovery with nice fibrous strands in the entire suspensory ligament.

The recovery time is 9 months from the injury so he will not have fully recovered until the end of 2009 – so no turnout, training or competitions until 2010. The plan is to slowly introduce trot into his work and in 3 or 4 weeks time introduce canter and then in 8 weeks time the vet will come to the yard to check progress. The trot work must not include any circles. Initially I will just trot on the long side of the arena and walk on the short side so that he does not have to trot around the corners.

I have been mixing 30 minutes in the school and 30 minute hacks. I have built up the work so that towards the end of September I am taking Razz into a field next to the yard which, if I go round it a couple of times, allows me to trot up the slope and walk down the other side. I now also include a little bit of canter as well. In the school I only trot or canter him down the long side of the 20×60 since the vets instructions were no tight circles. As Razz is getting fitter it is getting harder to keep him under control. The aim is to do a slow trot / canter but it is not always possible !

I have trotted him up a couple of time partly just to check what his trot looks like but also because I start to imagine I can feel something. He always looks good when trotted up. The vet will come in early October and hopefully will allow me to start to introduce circles.

The vet came to the yard to check Razz. I trotted him up in a straight line and in a circle. I then rode him in trot and canter with the vet watching but not making any comment. I was riding 20m circles for the first time so Razz felt very stiff. Nerve wrecking – I kept thinking he will stop me if he is concerned. Finally the vet said something …. He is happy with his progress and there is no sign of lameness. The vet does not need to see him again unless I am concerned but no competitions until April next year. The suspensory ligament is not yet back to full strength and needs more time to fully recover. But with a plan to gradually increase Razz’s work he will be back into full training early 2010.

I am keen not to rush back to full work so even though the vet asked me to do 20m circles for him to evaluate I am only trotting around the outside of the arena at the moment. Trotting round the short side is enough bend for him for the next week or so. I will then start to gradually include 20m circles a bit later. I would rather be cautious than risk damaging the ligament again.

Since I cannot compete until April I have decided to be very cautious. I will not do any 20m circles until Jan and I did hardly any trot work during November and in December I have only done trot work round the outside of the arena or on hacks. Hacks have got a bit exciting since he is getting a little bit fitter from the increased amount of trot work. After each hack I am always concerned just in case I have damaged his suspensory ligament but the ground is soft with all the rain so it seems OK – I do get him back under control fairly quickly. The vet has advised that he is not turned out yet so one hack per week seems only fair on him.

Since he is not turned out I hold him so he can get some grass at the weekend. This led to an interesting incident when somebody trotted past in the next field behind the hedge. This spooked Razz and all the other horses. Razz ran me over leaving me face down in the mud and watching him gallop back towards the yard. Luckily he stopped before he reached concrete and realised there was nothing to be scared of and put his head down and carried on eating. I picked myself up from the mud and walked over to him – shaken but not stirred !

Just over 1 year after going lame Razz successfully returned to competition. He won Novice 38 with 66.45%. A fantastic result. I had a compete mix of emotions from relief to elation.