Fergie

Fergie the horse runs indoors

16-year-old Saddlebred mare

Veterinarian: Matthew Hebl, DVM

HISTORY –

Fergie shows as a Saddlebred monthly and is ridden about 5–6 days per week. However, due to discomfort she had become choppy, awkward and sometimes hesitant to change gaits or directions. It was hard for her to stay in a good frame for riding, especially at quicker speeds. She tried hard despite her discomfort, and her owners wanted her to be as comfortable as possible.

spryng injection
Spryng equine injection

EXAM –

  • Choppy gait in her backend, intermittent left front lameness ~1 year

  • Grade 3 lameness: LR > LF > RR

DIAGNOSIS –

  • Arthritis of the left coffin joint, both hocks and both stifles

TREATMENTS –

  • Previous treatments did not have a beneficial effect

  • Injection: Depo-Medrol + 1 syringe Spryng™ in the left coffin joint, both hocks and both stifles

OUTCOME –

  • One week later: mild improvement

  • One month later: substantially smoother in gait, some stiffness remaining in left rear leg 

  • 90 days later: moving phenomenally and won two Reserve Champion ribbons 

  • She has become more willing to exercise and enjoys her work, she is smoother with no evidence of lameness in the left front 

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Tinker