Injury question

[horsey_woman]

Hi,

I went to see a Mare the other day. She is a 21 yr 14.1 ex jumper. She injured her leg (her ligament) and she needed surgery some time ago.

The lady selling her bought her with this injury, and was told she could hack her. We want her as a hacking pony.

The lady got her out and you could see she was slightly lame. But after being lunged it improved. My light weight friend got on her and she said after 5 mins the lameness suddenly disappeared.

We were told as long as we warm her up she will be fine.

Any thoughts?

[Est]

Be very, very careful with ligament injuries. My horse had an undiagnosed ligament injury (cruciate ligament, off side) that was not picked up on at his 5 stage vetting, and he has been out of work almost permanently since I bought him in June 2004. He may be coming back into work shortly, but it has been a long, expensive, frustrating and upsetting process that is still far from over. You really need a decent (independent) equine vet to take a good look at her, but due to my experiences, I wouldn't touch her with a barge pole personally, although others may have more positive tales to tell :)

[Tots N Dots]

I have a horse that hurt his flexor tendon, not had a days lameness since I got him, but saying that he isn't being ridden that much, but having previously had a "older" horse I would be very wary, at 21 years old things can go very wrong as it is, with things wearing through age, I had a very hearbreaking time, I would be more wary of her age than the ligament problem, but put the both together and my personal opinion would be no go, but I dont know the horse or you situation, :D good luck whatever you choose to do,

[andreaB]

lameness that improves after a short peroid of time can be down to a number of things & is often seen with hock spavin , so it could easily be the case that its not the ligament causing it at all