Well, to cut a long story short, I have acquired a thoroughbred that was going to otherwise have an untimely end. I planned to wait to get another riding horse after my study was over for financial reasons, but he just came a few months early!
Either way, he is a lovely horse other than having a a bone chip in his offside front ankle. I have seen the horse on and off over the past 12 months, his ankle was always a normal size but gradually got bigger and uglier as time progressed. He never once went lame on it, however whenever it was injected, the fluid was always quite bloody when it came out.
To get the chip removed would cost around $2,500 - $3,000. I have done a bit of searching on the internet and I am in two minds - was just looking on some feedback.
To start off with, he never went lame. I know the old saying, if it ain't broke don't fix it, but when injected the fluid was terrible. Could he perhaps have a high pain threshold. With such bad fluid, I was surprised that he DIDN'T go lame. Thoroughbreds are not reknowned for their high pain threshold, but maybe he is an exception.
I have heard horror stories of horses going permanently lame after removing a chip, that that is a risk.
Why I am asking is that in the future I would love to do eventing with this horse. But I am worried that landing after jumps would cause him pain on that ankle. He's had a couple of months off now, the ankle has come down a bit, there is no swelling, but it is rock hard. It's like a tennis ball has been cut in half and stuck onto the front of his fetlock. I assume with how hard it is it has calcified. Some of my showing friends alternate DMSO / comfrey ointment day and night to removed hard splints from ex-racehorses, I am trying this on his hard ankle, maybe (not likely, IMHO) it will come down. But that doesn't solve my problem, I am worried the chip will hurt him when landing from jumps, even if he doesn't go lame. I am also worried if I get the chip removed, my currently sound horse has the chance of going lame.
Any ideas/advice/stories. Anything would be much appreciated. I may try and remember to take some photos tomorrow morning
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