Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Angela,

I had a mare pull a hamstring several years ago.  She didn't tear it.  
She did this by wrapping herself up in a too long leadrope, then 
falling down with the rope around her rear leg, very effectively 
jerking her leg up at a very unnatural angle.

Six weeks later I went to my first ride on this mare.( I think it was 
in March)  Needless to say, she didn't pass the vet in.  She was very 
slightly off, and it wasn't consistent. No bobbing, just a slight 
elevation of one hip over the other at a trot.  I couldn't see it at 
first, but after having someone else trot her out, directly away from 
me, I DID see it.

I was pretty forlorn when the vets told me that she may always have a 
little "hitch in her get-along" depending on how it healed. I gave her 
a couple months of time off, then light riding (she was in awesome 
shape) and attempted another ride late that fall (End of September)

She passed the vet in, and did absolutely awesome for 42 miles of a 
fast flat race.  Due to my inexperience, the excruciating cold (It was 
24 that morning!), and lack of a butt-rugg, she cramped during our last 
hold.  So I pulled.  By the time we loaded her in the trailer and drove 
back to camp, (about an hour) she was fine.  Knowing what I know now, I 
should have kept her walking till the cramp went away, then finished.  
I was running  in the top 10, so I would have had plenty of time.  But 
I was concerned because of her previous injury, and didn't want to take 
the chance.  Live and learn!

If you find your horse actually has damaged the hamstring, I'd imagine 
recovery and  rehab would be similar to humans. Ice, heat, 
anti-inflammatories, rest, then light work, etc.  My husband used to 
run marathons and  triathlons, and torn a hamstring while he was fit 
for competition.  He healed up just fine.  He later pulled the other 
one, while not in competition condition, ( but still in pretty damn 
good shape) and it healed up well too.  It surprised me, because I saw 
the pictures of his thigh when it was black and blue from butt cheek to 
ankle and about 7 inches bigger around than it should have been! He 
doesn't seem to have any "gait irregularities either. *grin*

I hope this has been helpful.

Julie, who is grateful for rider histories online... it sure has helped 
sort out the seven years of photos I've been putting in albums! (It's 
been pouring and in the 40's here)

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It is how we "feel" deep inside that matters, cause each of us knows the
truth, regardless of how we try make it complicated.  It just isn't.
~ Frank Solano

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