Equine rehab case study 15 yr old Clyde X Gelding

June 2015

May 20^th 2016

Left front June 16^th 2015

After shoe removal, before trim

May 20^th 2016

Left front June 16^th 2015

Left front May 20^th 2016

Right front June 16^th 2015

Right front May 20^th 2016

Right front June 16^th 2015

Right front May 20^th 2016

Left hind June 16^th 2015

Left hind May 20^th 2016

Diagnosed with Shivers and retired from dressage
Pre-trim assessment June 2016
Exhibiting tension and pain throughout body.
Not able to comfortably stand on either hind leg, constantly shifting weight in hinds approximately every 20 seconds
Swelling in both hind fetlocks
Landing toe first at walk in both front feet
Toed in fronts
Toed out hinds
Tight and reactive to palpation in;
Poll = both sides
Scapula = both sides
Stifles = both sides
Elbows = both sides
S.I. = both sides
Hocks = both sides
Fetlocks = both sides, hinds
C2, 6 and 7 = right side
Tail = clamped
 

Shod in egg bar shoes = both fronts
Dropped sole = fronts
Negative plane coffinbones = both hinds
Old abscesses = both hinds
Under run heels = fronts and hinds
Medial/lateral imbalance = fronts and hinds
Frog thrush = fronts and hinds
Contraction = fronts and hinds
Flaring in the quarters = fronts and hinds
Whiteline separation = fronts and hinds
 

2016
No sign of shivers when trimming hinds
Far greater range of motion in all four limbs
Still some swelling in both hind fetlocks but definitely reduced from first assessment
In June 2016 this gelding came out of retirement and is now being hacked out and goes to the occasional show with the owners’ nephew.
At the time of writing he is still barefoot.