What is the best way to treat a bowed tendon??

Question

My horse bowed a tendon not too long ago. It's a high bow, he's very sore on it but it's not swollen anymore. He spends most of his time in a huge pasture and goes on a trail ride once a week...he was not injured while being worked. It happened on the 4th of July so I think he got spooked by fireworks. Since the injury he has not been ridden at all and has been going out in a very small pasture by himself so he doesn't get all worked up with his friends. Everything I read about bowed tendons says that it takes 6 months to a year of stall rest. I don't think it's in his best interest to stand in his stall because he needs to walk off some of his energy...this is why he's been turned out in a small pasture. He also is not a show horse so even if I started riding him again at some point it would be a very light trail ride. I want what's best for my horse not for myself. I like a happy horse =] What are your suggestions??

Answer 1

Rest, rest, and more rest.  Tendons/ligaments take a LONG time to heal.  I know this is frustrating but you just have to let it rest.  I don't necessarily think he needs to be kept in a stall, but I would try to keep him from running and bucking and whatnot as much as possible.  If you don't, it will not heal properly and will bother him for the rest of his life.  It is better to be patient now than to deal with it forever.

Remember that that particular muscle will always be weaker in the future.  I would suggest always giving your horse extra support then riding, to help keep it from happening again.  I have a mare who had a bowed tendon about 10 years ago.  She was given plenty of time to heal, and now I always ride her with SMBs, not matter how short/easy the ride, and I've never had a problem with that tendon again (knock on wood).

Answer 2

I have a horse with a bow, and I am lucky to be located near some of the best tendon vets in the country.  When they tell you that it will take 6-12 months to heal, that doesn't mean rest the whole time.  It means handwalking and riding in a controlled manner--every day.  This will make the tendon heal better and stronger--less likely to be reinjurred.  It causes the fibers to be in alignment instead of a jumble.  I was trotting and cantering the last 4 months of our healing.

Your vet should be able to give you guidance.

Answer 3

Rest is always best.   The first step is to cool down the the tendon with ice and reduce the swelling with medication. Then apply a poultice, I like Numotizine or cool cast for tendon injuries. But if indeed it is a bowed tendon rest will be necessary.  Some times surgery is necessary.

http://www.saferhorseracing.com/gpage5.h...

Answer 4

well don't ride hem any more. put him in a stall. he will be on lay up for at least 6 mounts. it takes a long time for tendons to heel properly. well just give him a lot of rest. don't turn him out. but you should walk him for 15 min a day. but good luck. i have a horse with a bowed tendon. it will take time just let him rest. hope i helped Sabrina

Answer 5

Unless you had an ultrasound done by a vet qualified to interpret it, the treatment is not certain.  That said, why would you rely on people on this site to give you medical information on something so serious?  You say you don't agree with what you read, so it sounds as though you don't plan to do what is necessary no matter what the reality is?  You say you want what's best for your horse, but then ask perfect strangers on a computer question forum to give you suggestions?  My answer to your question is that it takes a long time for this to heal and your best resource is the medical professional who diagnosed it.

EDIT...I obviously misunderstood your intent...I didn't mean to be rude...I guess it came off that way...I apologise.

Answer 6

you could try putting this stuff called Ice Tight on it and also alot of horse magazines have special boots for them. try looking at like www.valleyvetsupply.com . also lots of rest. and when it does heal and you start riding him again try putting Porfessionals Choice SMB elite or SMB 3's on him. they can prevent more bowed tendons and can lessen the chances of bowing that same one again.

Answer 7

you should have it rest and u should wrap up the leg  and u should take him to a vet or something cause it could get worse.

Answer 8

I suggest calling the vet. Your horse needs to get plenty of rest.

Answer 9

time is the best healer..... or as the saying goes anyway!!! ligaments, tendonds and similar injuries and ailments all take time to recover. If i was you, i would leave the horse for 8 months atleast, before preparing to ride him! even if the swelling has gone, and he isnt lame on it, i would still leave him because all he has to do is turn funny and it will go again. One of my young eventers broke his stifle as a foal. After being told to have him put down... we left him in the field... on medication for a year. By the time we came to brake him in he was sound. a year later he pulled a tendon (2 years ago) and we have only just started to ride him again now and hes nearly 7! Alot of the hunt horses we have had with tendon trouble have made a full recovery if left long enough... and the problem does not arise again. It will just take time. Keep him in the small padock for as long as you can and try to limit any exposure to soft ground (ie sand surfaces of an arena) or tarmac, as this will cause more tension etc on the ligaments/tendons. Hope he comes sound for you.

Answer 10

im sorry to hear this. i have a horse, who bowed his tendon in a gopher hole in a pasture. however, it is treatable in less that 6 months.

you need to separate your horse into a smaller pen, with no holes, big rocks, ect.

every other day rinse the injured leg with cold water for 30 minutes, after that rub horse liniment absorbing on the leg and wrap loosely with polo warp. along with every other day make him walk a couple circles.

i did this exact procedure for about 4 weeks and by the end of the 4 weeks he was walking pretty good. eventually i moved him to trotting circles then soon he was healed. i now still ride him in barrel races and trail. he has not had a bowed tendon since.

but its common of horses to bow their tendons again if they had already. so wen he heals after every ride rinse his legs with cold water and wrap them.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 11

I work with standard bred horses and sometimes they bow tendons especially the older racehorses. Poultice is the best to keep it cool feel it and see if its hot. The poultice will cool it down and tighten it. It will never go down all the way. But keeping it cool and tight is the best. When you go on trail rides give your horse a bute tablet. Its like a aspirin for horses. It will keep any pain away. Also rub the leg with a cool lineament  before you go on your ride.  l like to use green cool it works