scar tissue

Question
QUESTION: our horse put her rear foot through the side of a pole barn.  We treated her in the care of a vet. She has since developed scar tissue on her tendon.  We have seen a leg specialist and he has advised build up shoes and if those are not effective neurectomy.  The injury initially happened about 10 to 12 weeks ago.  This was a 4-H contesting horse.  She is used to being active. she is only 6 years old.  We don't have a lot of money but are very interested in alternatives.

ANSWER: Dawn,

There are a number of things I'm going to recommend.  First, go to a health food store and get yourself 3 essential oils and a bottle of carrier oil.  I like either almond or jojoba oils.  Mix up the following formula:

1 fl.oz of carrier oil
Lemongrass essential oil - 5 drops
Mandarin essential oil - 15 drops
Palmarosa essential oil - 10 drops

I usually mix up about 5 oz. at a time, or just use the bottle the carrier oil is in and multiply the number of drops by the number of oz. in the carrier oil bottle.  You don't need to soak the leg with this oil.  Shake it up thoroughly each time you use it and put about 20 drops. on your palm, rub it with the other palm then stroke it down the leg of the horse.  Be sure the leg is clean before you apply the oils.  

Each oil has specific properties, the lemongrass is anti-inflammatory and encourages collagen to reestablish itself. Mandarin encourages cell growth.  Pamarosa is also a cellular stimulant and supports the other 2 oils.  It should be applied twice a day. Do not bandage over it, just rub it on her leg from the hock to the top of her hoof.  Get someone to trim her feet who knows how to do natural hoof trims.  Let her go barefoot and let her go out. She'll use the leg and do her own physical therapy.  

I don't know the extent of the original injury or the degree of scar tissue formation you have to deal with so cannot give you a time frame for recovery or prognosis. She's going to be lame for quite a while but at her age she has a good chance of recovery.  Will she ever be up to contesting again?  Time will tell.  You would do well to see if you can find a good equine massage therapist who is knowledgeable about magnetic therapy and can show you with some therapeutic stretches you can do to help her.  I work on a lot of horses with tendon injuries and have seen some amazing recoveries. This course won't cost you an arm and a leg, the oils run in the neighborhood of $10/bottle, the carrier is about $10, but you'll probably only need to mix it up one time if you use the entire bottle of carrier oil when you mix it up.  The massage therapist won't be as expensive as a vet but will be worth the money if they're good.  

Lyn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:   The original injury was four inches long about 1/2 in wide and deep.  The original vet did not stitch it but left it to heal on its own.  The injury was about an inch above her hoof on the back side. and she is barefoot on the front but not on the back you want her barefoot on the back also??  Can you recommend any therapists in the Toledo, Ohio area or where would I find one and know if they are any good??

Answer
Dawn,

Yeah, barefoot all around.  You need to stretch that tissue, not prop it up so it can heal in a shortened form.  That's why I said get a "natural" hoof trimmer.  

Don't know any therapists in Toledo, OH area but am going to give you the number of a good friend and super therapist in the Medina, OH area.  I've known Denise for over 20 yrs., she's very much into homeopathy and I actually got her into the field of equine massage therapy.  She may either come herself or know someone she can recommend.  

Denise Shepherd
(330) 667-2109

I haven't seen her in at least 10 yrs. but I know she's still with horses.  Tell her I referred you to her.  If anyone can help your horse she can.  

Lyn