Scout has side bone

[valerie n scout]

Vet rang and confirmed following X-rays, I know nothing about this condition,other than it's common in draft horses I will research . X
Has anyone any info x

[Fi]

Sorry, I don't know it at all. But at least you have some answers. I hope its not too serious and scout is feeling ok.

[harveydales]

I didn't think it was a particularly serious problem generally. Common in draft types, as you say, but not usually a physical problem. I do hope that's the case with Scout.

[cadeby]

William, one of the Shire horses that I used to work with developed sidebone in his latter years. I think he was about 20 years old when he first became on/off lame with it. He had worked for Theakstone's Brewery as a dray horse so had a fairly hard life with lots of concussive work on the roads before he came to us, so his ossification of the cartilage in both front feet was quite severe.

William had to have specialist shoes fitted which were designed to support the heels and encourage expansion, and they were held on with glue and very few nails. He had a low level of bute during the periods of lameness.
When he wasn't lame, he still enjoyed short hacks but only in walk. He was PTS at the age of 25 due to a pelvic injury, totally unrelated to the sidebone.

Sidebone can't be cured but there should be options that will help to make Scout more comfortable xxx


ETA - William's case is going back 15 years, so there may be more modern methods of treatment?

[yanny]

I've never heard of sidebone, strange name. I hope he's ok xx

[valerie n scout]

I was really upset when I spoke to the vet, but hearing different things about this, I feel much more positive. He's still lame but much happier this morning I managed to turn him out into a field on his own. My farrier is really up on these things and text me...and he's on his holidays what a star, the vet sent him Scouts X-rays, so as soon as he's back he will get regular foot trims, this will help his balance. As always thanks guys XXX

[zeldalithgow]

Poor Scout

[colmworthdales]

Good luck with Scout's treatment, and I hope he soon gets a bit happier in himself. An old part-Shire mare I knew had sidebones but was still ridden slowly. She had an operation to remove some of the bony growth, but it did not cure her completely.

If you want to know more, why not look it up in your local library reference section, or even use the good old Internet - but use the reputable entries as I am sure there are a lot of horror stories on there. Also I am sure your vet will tell you a lot.

[tinkerdorisalison]

I think Alick has this (along with other things/arthritis etc) He is retired anyway.

I did know a lady who's pony was diagnosed with Sidebone, and she continued to hack him out gently

[valerie n scout]

The lady had re fenced the field and he is back on his own, he can see the others but can't be bullied, he looks as happy as Larry, whoever he is !!!! He's walking about freely, not looking lame, I give thanks to all the gods and goddesses that took pity on him
I've decided I can turn him out again, but I will go town lots and am definitely hoping to ride out slowly in a couple of weeks
Thank you from all of us for your words and vibes xxx

[dalesnfellfan]

Spud had ringbone which is similar to side bone but the ossification is all around the pastern and not just to the side, I too was devastated when my vet showed me the xrays.

It was quite severe with Spud but a lot depends on whether or not the pastern joints are affected and whether the bone spurs that are put up interfere with any tendons or ligaments. Spud was 13 when he was diagnosed and he had 5 years of intermittent lameness of varying degrees.

There is no cure but it can be managed, including with bute/natural pain killers and good farriery, if your vet and farrier are prepared to work together that's half the battle.

There is an op he can have but it's quite invasive and vet didn't think it would benefit him as he had bone spurs pressing on ligaments. He had remedial shoes with pads to start with, but was better when his shoes came off and had good trims, he had bute when needed but I found white willow bark daily worked best for him. Typically he was sound when the ground was soft and lame when the ground was hard but until just before the end I managed to keep him happy and after the initially flare up when he had 8 months off, he was ridden gently 2-3 times a week from autumn to spring and rested through the summer when the ground was hard. I found light hacking off road as much as possible and in straight lines, no tight turns, was best for him, mostly in walk but we did have trots and canters, he would always tell me if he couldn't do it. I did try him in boots with thick pads to lessen the concussion but I'm not sure it made much difference.

I hope your vet and farrier can sort something to make him comfortable enough to enjoy light hacking, my best advise would be to listen to Scout and let him do what he is able, Spud was certainly happier being kept going gently than he would have been retired to the field, he loved going out.

Good luck with him to you both.

[dalesnfellfan]

I forgot to say Spud also had injections into the pastern joint, steroid with long acting painkillers I think, they can give relief for up to 6 months but didn't last anywhere near that long for Spud. Also he had intravenous infusion with Tildren and a 6 week course of Adequan injections, neither of which seemed to do any good for Spud and are pretty expensive if not insured.

I tried all sorts of joint supplements and natural painkillers/remedies over the years but the white willow did the most for Spud, as my vet said they are all different and it's a case of finding what works your particular horse.

I also found a treatment with an osteopath worthwhile, she found Spud had a small bone at the back of his knee on the worst leg was out of place so he had it put back and his hoof rebalanced on the same day which gave him some relief.

I don't know whether you have lots of hills where you are but I did find Spud coped poorly with being ridden down hill as it loaded up his front legs, up hill was no problem. Also I found it helped to ride him properly even if we were just having a plod round the village, not suggesting you don't ride Scout properly, but if I asked him to use his back and take the weight back instead of letting him slop along on his forehand he was much better.

Hope some of this may be useful, I do know of a mare of about 18 who has had side bone for years and still enjoys hacking including pleasure rides but just can't do any schooling.

[jaycee]

At least you have some answers now so you know what you are up against. Nothing worse than not knowing. I don't know anything about the condition but hope all goes well for you.

[valerie n scout]

He's still lame at the moment and on Bute, I was thinking about Devils claw as an alternative painkiller..I've never ridden on a contact as he makes such a fuss of his mouth Andrea, he is ridden bitless should I encourage him to take a little contact, he does have a tendency to lope along with a loooooong neck !!!

[dalesnfellfan]

I found it took quite a few months for it to settle down with Spud before he became sound enough to ride again and he was rarely sound when the ground was hard, I tried devils claw for him and it did no good but what works for one doesn't work for every horse, it's trial and error until you find what works, white willow bark worked for spud, my vet also had some success with it for some other clients horses with ringbone.

With reference to the contact I don't think you need a lot of contact just encourage to work from behind more and get a bit of weight off the forehand, I'm assuming it's his front legs, it usually is.

You might find you need to wait till the ground softens before you see much improvement.