Alflora
Member
Is it ok to drive a shetland pony that has a locking stifle on the right hind in a 1-2 person cart? It is just to exercise him as he cant be ridden due to the problem
Driving a pony with a locking stifle?
- Thread starter Alflora
- Start date
Princess Rosie
Well-Known Member
I personally would be reluctant to drive a wee one with a locking stifle, we have a wee one that suffers and when he does he is in real discomfort, generally we can manage it with veg oil and also devils claw which does reduce the problem quite significantly. Have you tried anything?
Without obviously knowing the specifics and I'm not an expert but if he can't be ridden due to the issue I would be cautious about driving him.
Hope you can get him some relief and be lovely to be able to give him a purpose as he will likely enjoy it. x
Without obviously knowing the specifics and I'm not an expert but if he can't be ridden due to the issue I would be cautious about driving him.
Hope you can get him some relief and be lovely to be able to give him a purpose as he will likely enjoy it. x
Elf On A Shelf
...
We had a Shetland that locked his stifle - we got the ligament cut. It's a useless one that just gets in then way when it is too long/short so the ponies action was unhindered by it being cut and it meant he could no longer lock the stifle. Ask your vet about the procedure. Ours doped the pony, popped a local anaesthetic in the area, made a 2in incision, hooked and cut the ligament and stitched it over. Just kept the cut clean after no stabling required or anything. 8 years down the line the pony is galavanting around chasing sheep and giving pony rides so it clearly hasn't been an issue for him.
Wiz201
Well-Known Member
No driving would be even more risky than riding. You could walk out in hand or long rein/lunge him.
3OldPonies
Well-Known Member
How old is your little 'un? I ask because mine grew out of the problem as he got older.
jinglejoys
Well-Known Member
Yes I echoe the previous question,how old?
Blue had this when she was young and the vet said just allow pleanty of excersize,hill work and backing up excersizes over logs etc. She grew out of it used to drive me the five miles to work and then back home in the summer at my old job
Malaga had it too as a youngster,followed the same advice.he still locks up occasasionally if he hasn't had enough work but I just ask
him to do a few backing up excersizes and there's no problem
Blue had this when she was young and the vet said just allow pleanty of excersize,hill work and backing up excersizes over logs etc. She grew out of it used to drive me the five miles to work and then back home in the summer at my old job
Malaga had it too as a youngster,followed the same advice.he still locks up occasasionally if he hasn't had enough work but I just ask
him to do a few backing up excersizes and there's no problem
rara007
Well-Known Member
We have a young pony with locking stifle I drive 
it's only locked about 4 times in his life and he's 100% sound but I'm pretty sure the strength needed from behind for properly driving will only help He did his first event just before new year and is doing all three phases of indoors in a fortnight He goes very nicely, walks, trots, canters on both leads, bends, starting to show lengthened strides and is in self balance enough for one handed Takes 2 people including hill work (With a very light 4 wheel carriage, 2 normal sized adults) He's 12.1 Show pony sort, probably the nicest young driving pony I've had my hands on!
That said, if yours can't be ridden due to it, driving will put it under more strain than a lightweight rider...
it's only locked about 4 times in his life and he's 100% sound but I'm pretty sure the strength needed from behind for properly driving will only help He did his first event just before new year and is doing all three phases of indoors in a fortnight He goes very nicely, walks, trots, canters on both leads, bends, starting to show lengthened strides and is in self balance enough for one handed Takes 2 people including hill work (With a very light 4 wheel carriage, 2 normal sized adults) He's 12.1 Show pony sort, probably the nicest young driving pony I've had my hands on! That said, if yours can't be ridden due to it, driving will put it under more strain than a lightweight rider...