“I am interested in finding out if there is a way to straighten my Saddlebred horses tail without surgery”…
A tail brace has been used without success and surgery has been suggested. Seems harsh to me!!
Dr. Kimberly Gryl’s Answer:
Erinn:
Saddlebred tails that have been ‘trained’ to stay up have done so over years, and with the assistance of external fixations and other devices to hold them in that upright position. As a result, the bones are often contorted (to one side or the other) as the muscles have been re-trained to be in a different position. Your best bet would be to get an opinion from a Board-Certified surgeon and follow their advice. That is a lot of expense and hassle to go through just to straighten out the tail at this point; it may be better just to leave it the way it is. Any time you do surgery, you risk infection at the surgical site, as well as other associated risks (anesthesia, recovery). You have to carefully weigh your options of cosmetics against the risks.
