how safe or sound is a horse who has had a broken hip?

Question

the horse i bought is a 12 year old paso fino. i have recently discovered that at some point in her life she suffered a left broken hip or pelvis which was surgically repaired. she walks fine, but when riding with weight when she gets to a canter she seems to favor this hip and sort of gives way to it. but she does not balk at anything you ask her to do and does not seem to be in pain. i am just worried that she could give way and fall on me. is an old injury of this type dangerous to me or my horse?

Answer 1

it's probably best not to ride her, more for her sake than yours. she's up there in age and an old injury like that won't get better. riding her might do her harm. Also, if the hip gives while you're riding her, you could get hurt in the fall. It's best to allow her to graze in the pasture and be more of a companion to you. Something to care for and spoil.

get her a check up with the vet too.

Answer 2

IMO, best to not ride her at the lope, much less any activity that she will favor to. When a horse will favor, that is a sign of pain.

The weight and movement can injure and cause arthritis, if arthritis hasn't set in already.

At this point. I would only bareback her and go on nice walks. Possibly very light jogging for short period of time. If she starts to favor, I would immediately stop.

Your paso fino is also compensating weight shifting to other legs, that can cause sore and tiresome shoulders/legs.

To answer your question if the injury of this type is dangerous to you or your horse.

The answer is both.

Just in humans, old injuries hurt and do bother us as well. If we injured our back and try to pick up kids, it doesn't feel too well. So, I always place myself in my horse's hooves.

I would recommend giving her some pasture to move on freely on her own terms. Monitor her movement and keep up to date x-rays with the vet.

A gram of beaut once a day or every other day if she is favoring. Monitor the beaut intake since the old saying goes "Trading one for another".


Once a bone or muscle has been injured, future tears or breaks will occur above or below the site, due to the strength of the scar tissue. however consistent daily massage very beneficial for muscle tears and pulls.

My oldest geldings hips are not what they used to be. I have stop riding him with saddle all together and once in awhile will get on bareback just for little troll around.

My 38 year old appy was put down a few years ago when his hip gave out completely on Christmas 2002 day of all days. After 11 hours of trying, the vet put him down a little past 11pm. We scheduled to put him down in Jan after the holidays since he was laying down, but we had to have three people to help him get up a lot of times.

Hips don't last forever. So, need to take care of them as best as we can.

Answer 3

I journey countless ponies like this 3 situations per week so i recognize how problematical it ought to each and every in certain situations be! the appropriate element to do is to stay calm and sit down with the horse. Take each and every thing step with suggestions from step. do not attempt to positioned him into an outline yet. commence a lesson of with suggestions from a lot of transitions from halt-walk-trot and so on - this helps getting a horse listening to you. at the same time as asking him to bypass up a gate merely squeeze - do not kick - then if he would not pay interest you could kick. once you're in the college do not merely follow the wall - use circles, strains, figures of 8 and all of diverse sizes - this keeps him fascinated and hopefully listening. to attempt to make him somewhat rounder use circles - cause them to spiral out and in and save your palms mushy. once he's responding to all of those then you somewhat can attempt the better sturdy stuff. sturdy success - your pony sounds fab - and the first individual who replied obviously hasn't ever grown on the threshold of a pony.

Answer 4

You are taking unneccessary chances. Until you know what you are really dealing with, I'd recommend you stop riding her immediately!!! Get a vet out to determine how sound she is and what her prognosis is for the future.

This is the type of situation that makes pre-purchase vet checks a must!!!

Answer 5

IMO unsafe to ride. Pasture ornament esp if pelvis. Knew a filly one time who broke a pelvis - was told she was just a decoration. Unsafe to ride or race and unsafe to breed because of where the injury was.

Answer 6

i dont think i would ride her... and were you informed of her injury when you purchased her? i think thats pretty bad if the owner didnt tell you about it.... anyways i think it would be unsafe to ride her, as at some point the pressure of riding could become too much and she might fall... seriously injuring herself and possibly you as well... im very sorry to hear about this.. but i think she is going to have to stay a pasture mate for your other horses.. take good care of her and pamper her! i know you will :)

Answer 7

As an old fart myself I can tell you any old injury is going to hurt. It might be best to have a vet x-ray the joint and check it's current stability. Then, trust your vet's diagnosis. Could be serious, could be old age and just some minor pain killers needed.

Answer 8

Does she gait? Honestly, probably a possible broodmare prospect, talk to a GOOD lameness vet or call your local Large Animal Vet Hosp.

Answer 9

Gosh, I'm not a horse person, but I'd be a little worried. Call a vet to ask this question of him/her.

Answer 10

If her hip impairment won't be an issue in foaling, then perhaps you could just breed her (check with your vet). Otherwise, I'm with Shadowfox's suggestion above.