Growing issues and sticking stifles

[dixie]

My young horse is currently going through an odd lameness. We think it’s possibly sticky stifles in that he’s lame coming out of the stable behind but after walking him up and down for a couple of minutes he is absolutely fine.
I’ve been told by the vet to keep hacking him but it’s very alarming at first. He however feels fabulous out hacking despite looking horrendous at first.
Has anyone else have this with a young horse? And how long did they take to grow out of it?

 

[ycbm]

By 8 years old mine was only sticking occasionally if you asked him to pick up a leg to pick out a foot. If he walked off forwards he was fine. At 4 he stuck and did a jerky walk for a few strides any time he was stood in a stable or a horsebox.
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[dixie]

Mmmm mines 5, 6 later this year and only started this in the last 6 weeks.
it sounds like it might take some time to grow out if it ?
Did you take it slowly with him ie no jumping/schooling ?

 

[ycbm]

No I just treated him as normal, he was a strong cob. We did a lot of hill work because I live on hills. He jumped and I did some hunt rides with him. I would be concerned that this started recently, unless he has had a big growth spurt recently. Is your vet sure this is sticky stifles?
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[dixie]

No it’s very early days yet. It’s just very odd as he comes out the stable really lame and then after I’ve walked him up and down the yard he comes right (usually after the downhill part) and he’s feels fab out hacking.
I’m planning to speak to vet again Monday as I’ve sent him a few videos. I obviously need to pin down exactly what this is.
it’s not something I’ve come across before.

 

[ycbm]

Has a physio had a feel when he's been stood in a while? He's not a typical presentation for locking stifles at all, I don't think. I've never come across one where it didn't start very young.
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[nutjob]

I've had one with a locking patella. The action was very distinctive, the leg was obviously fixed straight and would snap up when it released. Occasionally it didn't release on its own and I had to step him backwards which always worked. He had it from age 3 and it improved with work. It was most noticeable when picking up feet. Like YCBM's horse he was also a cob.

ETA doesn't sound exactly like OP horse either.

 

[ester]

he does seem a bit old for it to be starting now.

 

[dixie]

It doesnt sound similar to the above and definitely not visibly locking.
to me he’s still young and he’s still developing. He’s part ID, so we’ll continue to grow for a couple of years I think.

Time to speak to the vet again. Am concerned I am causing damage by continuing to ride but it’s very weird ?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Might be his hocks. My pony who lived out always seemed fine, but if I stopped on a ride to chat to someone so for quite a while, he would move off lame then it would ease off and he would be fine. We finally found out he had an 'occult spavin'.
Definition of occult spavin
: spavin in which there is pronounced lameness without apparent enlargement on the hock joint.

 

[dixie]

Thanks - I’ll read up on that one.