Anyone had experience with horse's flexor tendon injury?

Question

We have a 16 yr old TB gelding who has been lame for a little over a month. He went to the vet like 2 days into it and they diagnosed it as a possible strain to the DDF (flexor tendon) in his front hoof. Has anyone had any experience with this kind of injury? Recovery? Etc? He's looking to make it back into the hunter ring (3 ft Children's hunters). He is currently being hand grazed daily. He's walking gently, but way better than he was before (he was like hopping in the beginning).

Answer 1

The vet did not communicate time off work nor next steps?  If not, call him and ask him the next steps and how to tell when the horse is well again.

From what I know of tendon injuries and the deep flexor tendon, these can take a couple months to heal and should be given all the proper time as recurring damage can become long term.

I think you should call the vet to see how long he was to recover and the proper means of bringing him back.

Different horses can have different levels of injury.  I would hesitate to give ideas that may end in further injuries to your horse.

Answer 2

well typically the deep digital flexor tendon allows the horse to move freely and very relaxed and absorb the shock upon impact and since u want to get him back into jumping you will just have to follow wat the vet says and bring him back VERY slowly so he has a chance of jumping again

best of luck!

Answer 3

I'm assuming (hoping) that what your vet meant was that after 6 weeks further ultrasound exams will be done to determine how healing is progressing.  It is doubtful that an injury to the ddf tendon will be anywhere near ready for anything but further evaluation that soon.  It may be that the vet wants stall rest and hand grazing for 6 weeks, and may increase the activity based on what tests show at that time.

Answer 4

A good old-fashioned bowed tendon will heal. It may never be as strong as it was, but careful management - good footing, stretching, strength building excercises, support - can result in a horse back in competition. Barrel racers often fight bowed tendons due to the demands the sport makes on a horse's legs. Many a national level competitor has the tell-tale thickness in their forelegs testifying to tendon injuries.

Give him a full six months before putting him back in walk/trot training and carefully monitor heat in that leg. Heat means too much stress and ease up his work load a little. Don't jump or demand that lead for several more months. If he gives you the lead willingly on his own, then he's starting to go sound on it.

Ease him back into full training, and he should be okay. But that leg will always be a little weak. Watch for heat in it after every ride.

Answer 5

6 weeks?  That seems way too fast.  I'd give it at least 6 months myself.  Here's the thing: muscles take a LONG time to heal, much longer than bone.  And if you don't let them heal right the first time, you will have problems with them forever.  So it's better to take the time now than to deal with problems the rest of your life.

I would put him on stall rest 6 weeks, then maybe move him to a paddock or somewhere that he can move around a bit, but nothing big like a pasture where he can run and re-injure himself.

I have a mare with an old bowed tendon.  She was given a year off right then and there.  Since then she has played polo and jumped and, knock on wood, I've never had problems with that tendon again...and she's now 18 and still jumping.  The other thing is that I now ALWAYS have her wear support boots (sports medicine boots) any and every time I work/ride her, not matter how light it may be.

Good luck!