Hi Cynthia, I'm looking forward to reading the replies you receive. My daughter's Standardbred had a phantom lameness from before we bought him. We had him for a 30 day trial period and told the excellent equine vet who did the pre-purchase that we thought he was occassionally off. He said, no, the horse is sound, I love him, go ride.
In the next 6 months or so we had him back twice for the same "we think he's off" exam. Terrific vet says, "no, he's sound, ride this horse". So my daughter rode him, conditioned him, and got pulled at the 12 mile vet check the first ride she entered him in.
SO ... we had the equally good ride vet ultrasound him. He said he had a mild and old suspensory injury. He prescribed 30 days of stall rest, then 30 days in a pen by himself and riding at a walk for 30 minutes on flat ground three times a week. At the end of those two months, we took him back. He said he had a truly excellent healing going on and said in the next 60 days to start with riding him up and down hills and eventually trot him on flat ground. Because my daughter wanted to move on to an experienced Arab and I really love this horse, I had him X-rayed to be sure there wasn't something else going on and bought him.
So I'm riding him at a walk up and down hills, occassionally trotting him on the flat and icing and wrapping him after each ride.
This vet said if we didn't increase the exercise to include hills, he would never progress beyond the day he did the second ultrasounf.
This horse has a RHR of 24-26, and the temperment of a jersey cow, might be the perfect backup horse for a grandma.
My gelding has been diagnosed with a mild suspensory injury. No heat and no thickening. Started head bobbing today on solid ground when circled for a while on a line, but only if the injured leg was to the outside. Was very lame yesterday after routine warm-up in a soft dressage arena. [Had slight, but consistent head bob by the end of our dressage lesson two weeks ago, but no problems with last week's lesson.]
Vet said that the injury is too mild to require an ultrasound and taking measurements. She showed me how to check for reaction/flinching to pressure on the ligament. The current plan is for total vacation (but not confinement) for the next four weeks and no dressage lessons for another two weeks after that.
I'd appreciate feedback/suggestions from folks whose horses have had similar injuries.
