Hennessy's diagnosis

As I posted last, the news was not good or what we had hoped for.  Hennessy has two torn muscles in his left hind leg - the cruciate is 80 % torn and the medial meniscus is 75 % torn with the lateral meniscus inflamed.   Our vet determined this with x-rays first then an ultrasound.  Only two treatment options were given by our vet - stem cell treatment, which would involve two rounds plus 6 months of stall rest - followed by 6 months of very small pasture turn out - followed by hand walking, then riding.  She could only offer a  20 %  chance of full recovery after this course of treatment.  The other treatment option - 6 months stall rest - followed by 6 months very small pasture turn out.  This treatment would only give the outcome of Henny being a pasture mate for the rest of his life.  And with either treatment option, there is always the chance of one or both muscles tearing further - or completey apart and he would immediately have to be euthanized.

Henny is a stall walker if left inside - and he stall walks at feeding time - and turn out time.  So if we tried to stall rest him, he would have to be under mild sedation all the time.  He is a hard keeper - we struggle to keep weight and muscle on him.  So he would lose all conditioning.  And he is 15.  He also has an old knee injury on the left front.  The vet said stall rest would put more strain on that knee and most likely cause swelling. 

Hennessy loves his job - eventing (ok, mostly the jumping part of his job) - and we just can't see subjecting him to either treatment option.  He is our daughter's horse - she picked him out and loves him dearly.  This is understandable hard on our entire family - but of course, she is suffering the most at losing her partner.  He took a girl who once said 'I never want to jump' to a brave young woman with determination and skill. 

I know many more horses will come and go in Lex's life - but it does not make it any easier.