|
Post by Gwen on Jul 12, 2009 11:29:43 GMT -5
Hey all, My sister's 22yo TB mare has been diagnosed with ringbone in her rf pastern. Has anyone had success returning horses with this condition to riding sound? The vet had her shoes pulled off (she has mild navicular in her LF) and a week of stall rest, lots of painkillers (they're saying she may need to be on aspirin/bute the rest of her life ), then three months pain management therapy then we'll see how she'll be. Betty (registered Bet I'll Fly) is not a happy camper being a pasture puff. She was a barrel horse turned jumper, and had been trail riding sound with light ring work before this. Any success stories or issues anyone has had with treating for this condition? I'm going to read up to educate myself more, just wanted to chime in and see if anyone else has had experience with it. Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by intrepidfox on Jul 27, 2009 15:37:58 GMT -5
Hi, stormys:
I don't post often, but I have a 3 year old off Finger Lakes who was diagnosed with "high ringbone" last year, and I spent countless hours with Cornell vets and my own vet dealing with it. Ringbone is just a form of arthritis/calcification in the joint ("high" is the PIP joint between the long and short pastern bones, whereas "low" ringbone is in the joint between the short pastern bone and the coffin bone--the latter has a worse prognosis usually). The PIP joint is a low motion joint, so many horses have lumpy pasterns and look terrible in radiographs but stay sound. My warmblood mare is one of these; her hind pasterns look like they have fists in them but she's never taken a lame step.
Injecting the PIP joint is difficult (small joint space) and rarely restores soundness. Of the ringbone cases I've seen, many come sound for light work with NSAIDs, rest, and turnout; however, if they stay lame, the only reliable treatment option is to fuse the joint. This sometimes happens on its own, called ankylosis, but not as reliably as hocks since it's a large joint surface, and if it happens it takes a long time. The other option is surgical fusion, but at her age that seems extreme.
I ultimately opted for surgery. For Prince it was a solid success; he's sound and back in work 6 months' post-op and the quality of his movement continues to improve. But it's a huge commitment (months in cast and Roberts bandages changed weekly) with lengthy rehab. It's hard to imagine putting a 22 year old through that.
Of course I am just parroting what I've learned from vets, but since I'd only owned the horse for a couple of months when he was diagnosed (in his case it was an injury that caused the ringbone) I did exhaustive research and soul-searching. Best of luck with your girl! The inflammation could very well stabilize and restore her to usable soundness.
|
|
|
Post by Gwen on Jul 28, 2009 7:33:38 GMT -5
Thanks IF! She too has high ringbone...and I agree with you about the surgery. She has been on turnout now, and is walking sound (trot still dips her head) but the difference now with treatment is that she is HAPPY. Not depressed like she had been, and plays in pasture with the rowdiest of 'em. If she gets any more unsound, my sister has been contemplating euathanasia mostly due to Betty's intense personality and work ethic. So we'll see...
Thanks for your feedback! I'm learning more as we go.
|
|
|
Post by fancyhorse on Jul 30, 2009 18:16:59 GMT -5
PULLED HER SHOES? WHY? My BF is a farrier and works on A LOT of horses with ring, ie a 25yo QH Pony with ring bone in both front. He put Egg Bar shoes on both front, the ones with a wedge and low and behold....soundness! In fact, she walks trots and canters with riders everyday and has been staying totally sound. That horse needs shoes!
|
|
|
Post by Gwen on Jul 31, 2009 7:41:30 GMT -5
She had a deep heel bruise in addition to the ringbone that was making her sore. We were a bit confused by it too initially, but she has come sound out in turnout.
|
|