| Located between the flexor tendon and the cannon | | | | done to effectively add the support needed for the |
| bone, the suspensory ligament supports the lower limb | | | | suspensory ligament during rehabilitation process. |
| of a horse and is vital to the horse's soundness and | | | | Iconoclast Orthopedic Wedge is located under the |
| performance. An injury to this ligament can end an | | | | distal pastern and provide the needed support |
| equine career and devastate owners. Several | | | | In 2006, Ward Heid, a fourth generation rancher and |
| factors can contribute to the breakdown of this | | | | avid horseman, had grown increasing frustrated with |
| ligament, including conformational defects, conditioning, | | | | the suspensory injuries of his own horses. Three of |
| and simply when a horse exerts too much force | | | | Heid's cutting horses injured their suspensory ligaments |
| during a performing or workout. | | | | — all within 30 days and were pulled from |
| Recognize the Signs: | | | | competition. After multiple trips to the vet, Heid was no |
| If your horse is not performing or moving well — | | | | closer to a solution than when he started. While |
| take the time stop, look and evaluate. Look for | | | | consulting with Chris Ray of Equine Sport Medicine and |
| abnormalities such as a little swelling, heat, and perhaps | | | | Surgery, Heid asked, "Suspensory injuries are common |
| a slight lameness. Consult a licensed veterinary as | | | | and can be career ending. Why isn't there something |
| soon as an abnormality is noticed. An ultrasound exam | | | | more?" Chris Ray had a theory — he explained, "If |
| can detect evidence of tendon or ligament damage | | | | you can come up with something that can strengthen |
| and will help dictate treatment and the likely hood of | | | | this region of the horse by way of a wedge, and |
| success. | | | | support it, then we can give that horse a better |
| Rehabilitation: | | | | chance of full recovery." |
| | | | Ray's theory sent Heid on a mission to discover a |
| Tendons and ligaments are more difficult to heal than | | | | solution. After years of trial and error, and conferring |
| other parts of the horse's body but can be treated | | | | with Ray and other veterinarians, Heid developed a |
| successfully, depending on the severity of the damage | | | | rehabilitative boot that utilizes an EVA foam wedge to |
| and treatment. | | | | support the suspensory ligament. Rehabilitating with the |
| After the injury, place your horse in a stall to prevent | | | | wedge helps reduce the scar tissue and provides a |
| further injury. Hydro therapy, hand-walking, and | | | | smoother, more comprehensive recovery. The boot |
| anti-inflammatory medications are among the typical | | | | Heid developed, now called the Iconoclast Rehabilitation |
| non-surgical treatments recommended by | | | | Boot, has proved to be an extremely successful tool |
| veterinarians. | | | | for the rehabilitation of horses with suspensory |
| There are numerous obstacles to overcome when | | | | ligament injuries. When the boot is properly placed on |
| attempting to return a horse to competition after this | | | | the horse's leg, the Iconoclast Orthopedic Wedge will |
| type of injury. There is a high potential of tissue | | | | be located under the distal pastern and provide the |
| scarring that inhibits elasticity. Ultimately, the tissue will | | | | needed support. |
| repair itself in a cross-hatch pattern, but the inferior | | | | Be sure to ask your veterinarian about utilizing the |
| scar tissue will become the weakest point in the | | | | Iconoclast Boot during rehabilitation to help increase |
| ligament going forward. Adding support in this area will | | | | your horse's chance for a full recovery. Perform a |
| help reduce scaring and increase the chances of a full | | | | recheck of the injury using an ultrasound exam to |
| recovery. Until 2009, there was very little that could be | | | | evaluate healing. |