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[RC] Damaged Tendons and Rehab - Stephanie E Caldwell

Over the past few weeks I've been dealing with a bowed/torn tendon in Star. 
She's got a 15% tear in her suspensory where it hooks on, and 25% tears in both 
deep and superficial digital flexor at the same spot, confirmed on ultrasound 
this week. Got a few questions for those of y'all that have gone through the 
rehab thing before, we've never had any sort of tendon problems.

The vet suspects that her tendon problems came from several things. One being 
her hoof angles were off some, her toes being longer than the ideal for her. 
They weren't long or her angles off, but they weren't correct for her either. 
Two being a pair of misapplied SMB boots. Never ever put the inside seam over 
the tendon! I borrowed a pair that was a size to big around and the seam was 
over her tendon, where the middle velcro strap hooked is where her damage is! 
Third being worked in deep mud with factors one and two... It was just too much 
for her tendons and she damaged the left and inflamed the right.

We've done 3 weeks of ice soaking morning and night, all the heat and 
inflamation are out of her tendon now, and we're cleared to walk 3 -4 times a 
week for 30 minutes for 4 weeks until we re-ultrasound her tendons. She's also 
cleared to go out in a small paddoc if she won't run (yeah... Right!), when I'm 
out babysitting her she's fine, but barn staff can't put her out and leave her 
out, yet. She's also getting very barn sour and running over people to escape 
from her stall, so we're having manners lessons as well. 

My vet recommended Ortho Equine SMB boots with the impact strip. They're 
supposed to be more supportive than any other brand, and even more they're 
breathable! Any one have experience with them? They are comperable in price to 
the other big name SMBs, but they are breathable. Vet admits they don't do much 
after being on 45 minutes or over, but she says it'll be a while before we're 
working that long again. >ggg<

Any ideas on rehabing her for distance riding? I'm sure that the ride in March 
I had planned to take her to is out of the questions, but what are her chances 
for being an endurance horse for me? 

Steph



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