Annular Ligament Constriction

[Painted lady]

Hope you can help - is there any connection between annular ligament constriction and hardening of the tendon sheath. My daughters pony is lame :( (only in trot i may add it doesn't show in walk or when she's cantering around her field):confused:
The vet seems to think it's hardening of the tendon sheath, having trawled the net and NR i was wondering whether the two are connected, oh it's her near foreleg.
Thanks in advance

[clipclop]

Normally problems with the annular ligament are down to what is going on underneath it, so yes there could be a problem with the tendon sheath.

[connieD]

my horse has the exact same problem as yours! she has been on box rest for 3 months and has started going out into a small paddock during the day. vets just been back and she is still lame - not good - have had x-rays that show nothing so vet says to wait yet another month and he will come back again. whats the advice been to do with yours?
i cant find anyone to get advice from either?
my girl is also only lame in trot but my vet seems to be almost writing her off - what has yours said about the future?

[clipclop]

The prognosis for this is not always good unfortunately. There is a surgical precedure vets can do to the annular ligament but it isn't always successful.

[Painted lady]

ConnieD looks like we're both in the smae boat:( , on the last visit from the vet she said she'd make a lovely brood mare :eek: , that's not what i wanted to hear:(

I'm not a big beleiver (sp) in box rest i'm afraid, to me it forces the issue by resting, and doesn't give a true picture, and certainly doesn't cure the problem. Our girlie was box rested for 3 months last year, OK she was sound for a while but now i seem to be back to square one again truthfully hand on heart i really don't think that long term is a very pretty picture. I think she will have to be a "pet" or "companion", which breaks my heart but i have to face it.

She had x rays and MRI scans last year and they didn't show alot (only a little fluid in the fetlock joint) but the vet didn't seem too concerned about that at the time,

I don't really know what we're doing next i think it'll be more xrays etc i'm not rushing into any decision she's only being turned into a small field and not doing herself any harm, our vet also said that the operation would probably cost more than she's worth (in my eyes she's priceless) but i could see the point as i'm aware that the operation has only a small success rate.

So it'll be a case of wait and see ................:( :(

[connieD]

ive had exactly the same response, i dont want to keep her on box rest so i have electric fenced off a small paddock and she goes out in there. how old is your neddy?
mine is in her 20's but was still very active up until the injury. im not worried about not riding her again as she is a pet and just having her is a gift in itself to me. i am considering the operation though. she has been under anasethic (sp) before so i know she is ok with it. know it is always a risk but would rather give it a go than see her in pain. i am considering totally turning her away for 6 months before that. just waiting for her to get a bit better first. im putting my girlie in a hydrotherapy spa for one day a week for a month to see if that helps
is there anything you are doing to try and help at the moment?

[Painted lady]

Hi ConnieD, she's only 11 so she's very young, she had a tendon injury as a foal, so that hasn't helped but unfortunately her confirmation doesn't help either (vet's words not mine) she's only 13 1 quite heavy / deep bodied with fairly fine legs so its quite a lot of weight on her legs. She's on loan to us and we've been looking after her for the last 4 years, and i'm in a dilemma, my daughter still want to compete (sj) only locally and just do "normal" hacking and enjoying riding etc with friends on our yard and i know it's harsh but i'm paying for a pony thats not fit for the purpose. At the moment i'm considering moving the mare to a yard close by where she'll basically be retired (if that's OK with the owner) and i'll carry on looking after her, and then get a part share for my daughter to compete on. Or when i've spoken to the owner, we may decide to go down the "operation" route, i'll let you know when i know. I'm trying devils claw and have for the last couple of weeks but it hasn't made any difference at all.........

[connieD]

its a hard decision i know. pm me when you decide what you are doing and let me know how you are getting on or if you have any break throughs - you never know one of us may make some headway and be able to help the other - we are spa ing again tonight so will see what happens
good luck!!

[Painted lady]

Thanks ConnieD I'll certainly keep in touch, and as you say hopefully one of us will have a break though, i'll PM you as soon as the desicion (sp) is made
Good luck too............