Horse With A Broken Leg???

I have a 6 year old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding named Spirit, who broke his left hind fetlock when he was a weanling before we bought him. He is competely SOUND now. We knew this when we bought him and the dude said that he would not be a good horse if I wanted to jump competitively and stuff. I was fine with that (cause I don't).

Then we brought him to his first barn and my trainer drilled it into my head that there was a possibility that he could go lame in a couple of years. She said that she'd seen it before and that it could happen. It scared that crap out of me.

I thought I didn't want to jump at all, but then I saw everyone else around me jumping and I look at pictures of people jumping with their horses . . . can you say jealous?

So I called my trainer and asked if I could possibly jump him at all. She said his max was 2 ft. I really don't want to do it if there is any possibility that this could hurt him long-term or make him sore or anything.

So here's what I'm asking . . . can I jump him at all? How high? How much? How do I take care of him before and after I jump him?

I've jumped him 3 times since I've had him (a year yesterday !) I warm him up properly, put wraps/boots on, cool him down properly, then cold-hose his once-broken leg and put liniment on his legs. He's also on a joint supplement.

Thanks!

i would contact a vet and get their opinion on the matter.

Did you have x-rays taken of the leg?

Honestly, I'd be nervous jumping him. Even with all the conditioning and training, it puts a lot of stress on the legs and when one leg is already compromised, i just wouldn't want to risk it.

I'll contact the vet, you're right. Yes x-rays were taken. Completely and utterly sound.

If the vet okays it then I would start very slow over nothing more than about 1 foot tall. Just work into it slowly and keep a very close eye for any lameness or even a missed step here and there. I would also suggest very supportive boots and cold water and liniment after each session.

yeah, we've only done the lowest possible crossrail. I've put his boots on, cold-hosed the leg, and put his liniment on after the jumping sessions

It really depends on how he broke it. With it being a hind leg, I'd be a lot less worried. Typically, after a broken bone heals fully, the point of break is actually stronger due to heavy calcium deposits during the healing process. If he's been ridden completely normally for years, I have my doubts that small jumping could do anything to affect it. I know a girl on another forum's who's horse broke a front leg, and he's back up and running a year later, plus jumping. Once it's healed, it's healed, and the possibility of it ever breaking at that location again is slim to none.

Being a TWH, he'd not likely ever be suitable for intensive jumping anyway due to how he's built. Talk to your vet, but the fact that he did it when he was a foal and has been used as a completely sound riding horse ever since makes me think worrying just isn't neccesary. It sounds like you're doing everything right, and I'm pretty sure he's put a lot more strain on that leg being silly in the pasture then he ever will jumping a few fences.