My TB horse has a bowed tendon.?

Question

Apparently he bowed a tendon and the first Vet didnt see it. Clean x-rays and he said turnout as usual. Now 6 weeks later 2nd opion with an ultrasound confirms bow. Now it is at least 6 weeks since bow. Anybody have experience with treating a bow like this. I dont think its a bad bow. Vet said just lots of rest, is she right? help please

Answer 1

Your vet is correct.  Regardless of the kind of bow (high, low or banana) let the horse rest and wait for the bow to set.  Time is the great healer, be patient!  Being a pleasure horse, it should not affect the use of the animal at all.  

In the "bad, old days" a bow was pin-fired and blistered... A very nasty and utterly useless procedure.  

As for your tattoo question, TB's have 1 letter and 5 digits.  Arabians have 1 letter and 6 digits and Appendix QH's have 1 letter and 4 or 5 digits.  The letter always indicates the year foaled (as described in the other answer.)

Obviously, you would know if your horse was an Arabian, but it can often be hard to visually differentiate a TB from an Appendix QH.  If your horse has only 4 digits, it is probably an Appendix bred QH, check with the AQHA.  Often, this is the case.

Answer 2

i would take the vets advice as you do not wanna hurt the horse any more than it is

Answer 3

I once rehabbed a horse who bowed in both front legs and got him back to the races.  He was on stall rest for about a month, during which time he was blistered.  Then we put him out in a paddock for about 4 months and just let him hack around and take it easy.  When we brought him back into training he was on daily cold therapy - cold hosing 20-30 minutes before exercise, then another 30-60 minutes in freon boots after exercise.  He got a lot of long, slow miles like that and we worked him into shape slowly.  He probably was training 2-3 months before we threw the first speed drill at him.

For hunt-seat, I would probably blister & turnout.  Then bring him in and just get a lot of groundwork under his belt before you start jumping.  He may benefit from beginner dressage training - the practice stretching and balancing is really beneficial for a horse in rehab.  But cold hosing is really a wonderful thing and he should get it, if not daily then 3-5 times a week, especially in the beginning.

Answer 4

ive seen quite a few bowed tendons and all i know is the old fashioned way of mending one but depending on how bad it is it may never heal no matter what you do and even if it does heal it will always be weak if your horse is well broke and patient you can cold water in a bucket then put your horses hoof down in the bucket then pour ice around his leg leave his leg in the bucket for 10 to 20 minutes then dry it off and rub some rubbing alcohol on his leg massage it in for 2 to 3 minutes then wrap his leg for the night and unwrap in the morning and turnout as usual then repeat the process depending on how serious it is you should lightly work him every day and the stronger he gets the more rigorous the work out should be but start out at a slow walk on a lead line before you get on and before every ride so you can see how his stride looks so as not to hurt him any further .umm about the tattoo i have a x harness racer and his tattoo is one letter and four numbers so you might be ok with his tattoo but my horse is a standardbred.

Answer 5

I understand your questions, I am currently dealing with a tendon problem,  you should keep your horse in a stall if you want to take your horse out twice a day on a halter for about 5 to 10 mins. twice a day, until your vet suggests more exercise.  My horse had just a mild bowed tendon and she got out with other horses and now she may be lame for life, she tore her main tendon.  So please be very careful about keeping your horse as quiet as possible.

Answer 6

The letter at the beginning of the tattoo tells you the year your horse was born so if you can read the letter you know his age!

A=1971

B=1972

C=1973

D=1974

E=1975

F=1976

G=1977

H=1978

I=1979

J=1980

K=1981

L=1982

M=1983

N=1984

O=1985

P=1986

Q=1987

R=1988

S=1989

T=1990

U=1991

V=1992

W=1993

X=1994

Y=1995

Z=1996

A=1997

B=1998

C=1999

D=2000

E=2001

It is my understanding that there is always five numbers after the letter on a Thoroughbred's lip tattoo. Maybe if you look closer you will see it? The tattoos can fade.

If you can't read the tattoo completely the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau will do research for you for a fee with whatever info you have about the horse. Go here:http://trpb.com/idres.htm

If you can read the entire tattoo the Jockey Club will provide info about your horse for a fee. Go here: http://www.tjcis.com/otherServicesDispla...

As far as the bowed tendon goes, there isn't much you can do for it but rest. Sometimes it can take a year. Since your horse is a pleasure horse I am sure the odds are good that he can return to that line of work. I am not sure about the jumping part, though. Maybe.

Answer 7

i'm no expert ; not by a long shot ; but if you want to race this horse you will need to be patient ( you didn't say how old he / she was ) but it's not a comfortable situation to be in especially if  you get the horse to the track --- only to wish you hadn't --- i don't need to go into the 'gory ' details --- however a rather successful way of helping this problem is to swim the horse preferably in the sea --- many trainers do it ( not neccessarily for bowed tendons ) but nonetheless strenghthening is a big plus in this area --- i wish you well --- and if you want to drop the name of your neddy -- please do --- i'd like to follow it with interest . good luck