how much time off for a torn tendon?

[felicitie]

My mare tore a tendon up by her stifle... I was wondering how much time she needs off??...I know a lady, her horse tore a tendon by its hock and she stayed off of him for a year..to be on the safe side and then started him back up really slow and easy .....and sugestions? thanks

[Scarlett 001]

So it is actually torn, not just strained? I think this makes a difference. If you do a google web search for "tendon horse blown" or some key words like that, you will find some useful web sites. A few of them have suggested time frames for stall rest, walking around an arena on a lead rope, when trotting can be introduced etc. From what I gather it is indeed quite a long time before rigorous activity can be resumed. I am doing homework on tendon injuries as a horse I am thinking of purchasing recently went and strained (at least we think it is a strain) his tendon.

Galadriel provided some useful web links in my thread in this section on "skinny horse" - the issue of this horse's tendon came up in that thread.

Best wishes to you and your mare.

[helenc]

Have you had the vet out to do a tendon scan? If you haven't then you should get that done ASAP as that will tell you the precise problem. The vet will tell you how to treat it including the amount of time your horse needs to have off. I'd be inclined to have another scan towards the end of his time off to make sure everything is healing ok.

Hope you get it sorted :)