Dislocated patella and slipping stifles

[Coo]

Hello there, my young 2 year old colt got frightened in the field the other week and to my horror I found him dragging his hind offside leg out to one side one day, the vet came and looked pretty horrified too but told me it was a dislocated patella and gave me some anti inflam for 5 days, as he was waking it popped back in and though for the next few days it would lock up it gradually got better and I've not seen it lock up at all in the last week, vet came two weeks ago and because he still looked stiff gave me another 15 sachets of anti inflam, two a day for five days and one a day after this, his stifles both look click when he walks if you watch from behind, as he walks away they look like they both are jolting or clicking - it doesn't seem to cause him any pain, and they aren't getting locked just clicking, vets suggested hill walks, which I will start doing as part of his field is hilly (though taped off as not great fencing on the borders) he's very green and only just let me get a headcollar on him and start leading him but its enough to walk him up and down the hill at least, is this the only thing I can do? I understand this is common in younger male horses and often they grow out of it? How else can I strengthen up his back end to hope that this is something he grows out of? Worried putting him on a lunge line would only put more stress on young joints? X

 

[bramblesmum]

My mare suffers from it she's 13 now and has lead a good working life. I found hill work in hand wearing a roller with an elastic physio band tied round the quarters attatched to each side of roller brill - an equine physio can help get you these and I've found physio treatments greatly improved my girl also in hand stepping over cavaletti helped loads and when older long reining. Failing all that they can have the ligament cut and if it happens a lot is worth considering. My vet recomended glucosamine supplement to help protect the joint

 

[mynutmeg]

My mare has mild stifle lock and I find if she slips or something and pulls her leg she'll be worse for several days. The 'lock' comes from the muscle not working properly so if he popped his patella out then the whole area will be sore and pulled. It may take some time to come right but if he never had problems before this then it would be unlikely that he will have future problems.

Lunging I absolutely wouldn't do as small circles is something that my mare struggles with because of the stifles. Long reining would be a good way to go as that lets you build him up without the stress on his joints and will be good prep for backing. Until he's ready for that then leading up and down the hill is a good start.

It's not so much 'younger male horses' but horses with a bit to straight stifles tend to suffer most. They usually show signs when young and then they do often grow out of it. For example my mare was about 3 1/2 when she first showed signs and was much improved by about 6 years old.