Proximal Suspensory Ligament Injury Rehabilitation
- Case Study 15
A 14-year-old dressage horse sustained a proximal suspensory ligament (SL) injury in the left forelimb following a field injury in June 2025
Patient Profile
Age: 14 year old
Ridden History: Dressage Horse
Date of Injury: June 2025
A 14-year-old dressage horse sustained a proximal suspensory ligament (SL) injury in the left forelimb following a field injury in June 2025. Initially, the horse was approximately 3–4/10 lame.
EqueStride rehabilitation began on 08.08.2025
Early examinations showed:
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Intermittent lameness at walk and trot
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Mild fetlock hyperextension during movement
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No significant swelling
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Soundness with higher EqueStride support settings
Ultrasound monitoring throughout rehabilitation demonstrated progressive healing:
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Initial scans showed injury within Zone 2 of the suspensory ligament
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Follow-up scans revealed “good improvement”
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Progressive filling of the lesion with improving longitudinal fibre alignment at the ligament attachment site
Rehabilitation exercise progressed gradually:
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Initial stable support and controlled turnout (SPTO)
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Introduction of ridden walk work
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Progressive increase to 40 minutes ridden walking daily
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Gradual introduction of trot work in short intervals
Additional supportive therapies included:
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Heart bar shoeing
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Laser therapy during mid-rehabilitation
Outcome
Over approximately six months of rehabilitation:
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The horse progressed from moderate lameness to consistently sound at trot
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Ultrasound scans showed substantial tissue healing and improved fibre organisation
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No swelling or pain on palpation remained
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The horse successfully returned to ridden walk and controlled trot exercise without setbacks, despite occasional field exuberance