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Hey Guys-

Just curious if any of you have dealt with this issue before with a mule. Was riding her about 3 months ago and she came up lame. Joint just above her hoof on a rear leg swelled up bad and she wouldnt put any weight on it for a few days. She slowly has gotten better as I have not rode her this while time but her joint is still a little swollen but she is using the leg almost 100% it again. How long should I rest her, is she done for good? Thanks.

Az

Tendons can take a long time to heal, I usually use an easy boot with a wooden wedge screwed to the bottom to ease tension and allow it to heal. Keep her stalled to minimize movement, she should come out of it, could take up to 6 months.

If it is a low bow I think you will be alright .. I haven't dealt with it in mules but I have with horses.. you can blister it but I'm not sure that helps, there is an advertisement in one of the magazines I get of some stuff that is suppose to work good.. I can't remember the name but I can get it if you would like.. Like was said minimize movement for a while and if you really want it to heal turn him out and stay off of him for a long time.

I had a real nice gelding I was roping on and we were at a roping and it had rained some and I should of known better but I entered up anyway and he slipped and bowed a tendon.. it wasn't bad so I just stayed off of him for about three months.. I brought him back slow and we were alright for a while but he bowed it again.. the last time I just took him and turned him out for a year... started him again and he never took a lame step.. sold him for a lot of money and he passed the vet check... so I think more than anything give it time to heal..

I am a Farrier, and if your shoer left her angles to steep and she was rode hard or stept wrong it could bow it.

I use Ice Tight , you lather it on thick on the tendon, then wrap it with surran wrap and then put a soft leg wrap over that and tape it were it velcrows so the mule doesnt pull it off. Leave it on for a few hours than run cold water over it after you pull the wrap and clean the affected area.

Hope this helps, it has helped me a few times.

I am with Cowboyvon, I have also had heading horses slip in the mud and bow a tendon, also got a horse off the track that had bowed a tendon during the race. both of them just took time to heal up. and neither one of them ever showed lameness after they healed. If a person can get away with it on something like that I like to keep them in a 12x12 stall or smaller for 90 days then move them out to a little bigger stall for another 90 then if they are doing ok turn them back out for the rest of the year. alot of people might not be able to get away with this.