I'm so sorry your horse was hurt! Unfortunately, I can't offer you any advice, as I am not a vet. Dot's condition was chronic and in ended up being in the sacro-iliac joint (see posts below). It was the result of his advanced age after a long and successful career as a sport horse. If your horse suffered an actual injury to the stifle, you need to consult an orthopedics-specialist vet. Learn as much as you can, too, so you can ask the vet all the right questions. Best of luck to you both!
Wow, thanks for the video! This is what my mare has been doing, but won't do when the vet is out (kind of like taking your car to the mechanic for a weird noise... and then the noise doesn't happen when in the shop!)
@catofchaos123 - try taking a video of her. Have someone be available to tape for about an hour, so that you have enough video to edit. That way, you can include only the "bad" parts. Seriously, our vet really loved seeing the videos I sent him. He said he'd just get a coffee, put his feet up and do a lameness exam right on the computer! The part he loved is being able to watch a specific movement over and over. It was truly helpful. Maybe it'll help your vet, too.
@catofchaos123 , you may also want to have your vet examine your mare's sacro-iliac (SI) joint, which is where the spine joins into the pelvis. This is often overlooked, but if there is any spinal pathology, such as a pinched nerve, it could result in sciatica, which is very painful. Just a thought.
Thank you for the replies! I haven't been able to get my own video yet, but I did show this one to my vet since it is pretty much what my mare has been doing. The SI joint issue makes sense and is something to consider. The vet is coming out again next week so we shall see if we can pinpoint it!
@catofchaos123. Me too! My 14 yo gelding who has never had any problems excpet for mild arthritic changes in his hocks necessitating injections the past 2 year is doing this same thing. It goes away with bute from what I can tell (not sure if it is due to decreased pain or decreased inflammation)??? I've had him at one of the best known vets in the central TX area for lameness and he says he's perfectly sound - like a mechanic - the horse doesn't do it when he is at the vet!
@catofchaos123. Me too! My 14 yo gelding who has never had any problems excpet for mild arthritic changes in his hocks necessitating injections the past 2 year is doing this same thing. It goes away with bute from what I can tell (not sure if it is due to decreased pain or decreased inflammation)??? I've had him at one of the best known vets in the central TX area for lameness and he says he's perfectly sound - like a mechanic - the horse doesn't do it when he is at the vet!
Backing up helps strengthen the quadriceps muscles, which will help stabilize the stifle. Be sure to check, though, to make sure it's not the sacro-iliac joint ("subluxated hip" - what we used to call a "hunter's bump"), as that can cause sciatica-like issues and also cause intermittent, mysterious, stifle-like lameness.
You are very welcome :) Hope it keeps helping! Just work her in straight lines for a bit, long & low, and don't ride tight corners or circles smaller than 20 m (or bigger, if you can), and don't canter for a while. If you have long, low hills, gradually build up to trotting up & down those, to build up her back, abs & rear end. It really does help.
BTW, this video was done to show our VET what happens during the 'tripping', because it was so hard to diagnose! We caught it on video.
Honestly, it's really difficult to deal with stifle problems. Backing up to unlock IS one solution that often works, because of the muscles it uses, but may depend on the individual horse, and in what position the kneecap (patella) locks. Again, an x-ray would be your best bet, to eliminate any issues of possible damage. However, if there is nothing damaged, backing up EVERY day for exercise, 4-5 times, 12-15 steps each time, will strengthen the quadriceps and may help against the locking.
Because your mare is so young, I would have a vet take a good look at her. Estrogen therapy is another thing that REALLY worked well for Dot - but he's an older gelding, and I don't know how it would go with a mare. It softens the pelvic ligaments, so they can step under themselves better. Just be careful if anyone mentions internal blistering or surgery - both are very drastic and often don't work. Do a vet check, and use rehabilitation & exercise as your first resort.
The upward fixation is what locks the stifle in place, just as your own knee might lock sometimes, so the horse can't move the leg. it's called "stifling". I'm not familiar with Superflex, unfortunately, but one way of helping is exercise to strengthen the quadriceps muscles. Lots of walk, progressing to a little trot. No canter, no corners, only VERY big circles. Backing up every day to build up the muscles. However, you should have your young mare xrayed to eliminate other issues.
We now know that the stifle issues are SECONDARY to sacro-iliac subluxation, or displacement of the joint between the hip-bone (ilium) and the sacral region of the spine. This is a chronic issue, likely a left-over from the racing days, and is sometimes called a 'hunter's bump'. It can be seen from the back, when a horse is standing. One side of the highest point of the croup is a little lower than the other side. Arthritis, age, wear and tear can make this worse.
I'm so sorry your horse was hurt! Unfortunately, I can't offer you any advice, as I am not a vet. Dot's condition was chronic and in ended up being in the sacro-iliac joint (see posts below). It was the result of his advanced age after a long and successful career as a sport horse. If your horse suffered an actual injury to the stifle, you need to consult an orthopedics-specialist vet. Learn as much as you can, too, so you can ask the vet all the right questions. Best of luck to you both!
fugue83 4 months ago
My 15 year old Arabian gelding has a stifle injury on his back right leg.Whats a way to fix it???
grandmashorses 5 months ago
Wow, thanks for the video! This is what my mare has been doing, but won't do when the vet is out (kind of like taking your car to the mechanic for a weird noise... and then the noise doesn't happen when in the shop!)
catofchaos123 1 year ago
@catofchaos123 - try taking a video of her. Have someone be available to tape for about an hour, so that you have enough video to edit. That way, you can include only the "bad" parts. Seriously, our vet really loved seeing the videos I sent him. He said he'd just get a coffee, put his feet up and do a lameness exam right on the computer! The part he loved is being able to watch a specific movement over and over. It was truly helpful. Maybe it'll help your vet, too.
fugue83 1 year ago
@catofchaos123 , you may also want to have your vet examine your mare's sacro-iliac (SI) joint, which is where the spine joins into the pelvis. This is often overlooked, but if there is any spinal pathology, such as a pinched nerve, it could result in sciatica, which is very painful. Just a thought.
fugue83 1 year ago
@fugue83
Thank you for the replies! I haven't been able to get my own video yet, but I did show this one to my vet since it is pretty much what my mare has been doing. The SI joint issue makes sense and is something to consider. The vet is coming out again next week so we shall see if we can pinpoint it!
catofchaos123 1 year ago
@catofchaos123 - Good luck! I hope things turn out well. If you don't mind, drop me a line and let me know how it works out.
fugue83 1 year ago
@catofchaos123. Me too! My 14 yo gelding who has never had any problems excpet for mild arthritic changes in his hocks necessitating injections the past 2 year is doing this same thing. It goes away with bute from what I can tell (not sure if it is due to decreased pain or decreased inflammation)??? I've had him at one of the best known vets in the central TX area for lameness and he says he's perfectly sound - like a mechanic - the horse doesn't do it when he is at the vet!
chasers1999 1 year ago
@catofchaos123. Me too! My 14 yo gelding who has never had any problems excpet for mild arthritic changes in his hocks necessitating injections the past 2 year is doing this same thing. It goes away with bute from what I can tell (not sure if it is due to decreased pain or decreased inflammation)??? I've had him at one of the best known vets in the central TX area for lameness and he says he's perfectly sound - like a mechanic - the horse doesn't do it when he is at the vet!
chasers1999 1 year ago
my 8yo tb got his stifle issues from racing :( hes ok but he needs a lot of work to get it better again
HoofHearted101 2 years ago
Backing up helps strengthen the quadriceps muscles, which will help stabilize the stifle. Be sure to check, though, to make sure it's not the sacro-iliac joint ("subluxated hip" - what we used to call a "hunter's bump"), as that can cause sciatica-like issues and also cause intermittent, mysterious, stifle-like lameness.
Good luck!
fugue83 1 year ago
thanks for your help i think shes growing out of it because since shes been backed shes not doing it half as much thank god
wow 20 years i hope i have my 3 year olds that long
milliesos 3 years ago
You are very welcome :) Hope it keeps helping! Just work her in straight lines for a bit, long & low, and don't ride tight corners or circles smaller than 20 m (or bigger, if you can), and don't canter for a while. If you have long, low hills, gradually build up to trotting up & down those, to build up her back, abs & rear end. It really does help.
BTW, this video was done to show our VET what happens during the 'tripping', because it was so hard to diagnose! We caught it on video.
fugue83 3 years ago
oh and i cant belive your horse is that age
hes stunning
milliesos 3 years ago
Thank you :) He's a very sweet boy. He has been with me for 20 years.
fugue83 3 years ago
xrayed ok thanks i havnt been told about that one
i will get onto it right away
can i ask you
iv been told by people on hear and you seam to no what your talking about
but iv been told to back her up when shes fully locked to unlock it
do you think thats ok?
shes only ever locked fully 2 times
milliesos 3 years ago
Honestly, it's really difficult to deal with stifle problems. Backing up to unlock IS one solution that often works, because of the muscles it uses, but may depend on the individual horse, and in what position the kneecap (patella) locks. Again, an x-ray would be your best bet, to eliminate any issues of possible damage. However, if there is nothing damaged, backing up EVERY day for exercise, 4-5 times, 12-15 steps each time, will strengthen the quadriceps and may help against the locking.
fugue83 3 years ago
Because your mare is so young, I would have a vet take a good look at her. Estrogen therapy is another thing that REALLY worked well for Dot - but he's an older gelding, and I don't know how it would go with a mare. It softens the pelvic ligaments, so they can step under themselves better. Just be careful if anyone mentions internal blistering or surgery - both are very drastic and often don't work. Do a vet check, and use rehabilitation & exercise as your first resort.
fugue83 3 years ago
hi
do you no about upword fixaction of the patella sorry i might of spet that wrong
my 3 year 6 month old welsh cob mare has it and iv have now put her on superflex supterments
please let me no what you think or no?
milliesos 3 years ago
The upward fixation is what locks the stifle in place, just as your own knee might lock sometimes, so the horse can't move the leg. it's called "stifling". I'm not familiar with Superflex, unfortunately, but one way of helping is exercise to strengthen the quadriceps muscles. Lots of walk, progressing to a little trot. No canter, no corners, only VERY big circles. Backing up every day to build up the muscles. However, you should have your young mare xrayed to eliminate other issues.
fugue83 3 years ago
We now know that the stifle issues are SECONDARY to sacro-iliac subluxation, or displacement of the joint between the hip-bone (ilium) and the sacral region of the spine. This is a chronic issue, likely a left-over from the racing days, and is sometimes called a 'hunter's bump'. It can be seen from the back, when a horse is standing. One side of the highest point of the croup is a little lower than the other side. Arthritis, age, wear and tear can make this worse.
fugue83 3 years ago
Thanks :) Glad it helped!
fugue83 3 years ago
Great reference. Now I know what the heck the ladies are talking about at the stable. Thanks for explaining what this is.
bsneaky33 3 years ago