Help! Had Colt only 5 days and Stifles now locking!

[CeeBee]

As title!
I picked up my 2 year old colt on Friday and everything fine. He settled in really quickly and gets on very well with Harvey. However, yesterday noticed he was dragging hind hoof then it appeared to 'spring' back into place. When I picked up his hind leg, it 'pinged'. Now this morning, it seems to be doing it on both hind legs. I'm beside myself! Does this sound like locking stifle? And if so, what can I do? I had a 2 stage vetting done on him before purchase and nothing untoward came up in the vetting.
He has however been mounting Harvey. Harvey is a full up 16.1 and colt is 14h. Could he have done this since coming to me, or could it have been covered up before vetting?
Really appreciate any advice!

 

[splash30]

Firstly don't panic.

Your story sounds exactly like mine, yes it does sound like locking stifles, I have spoken to loads of different vets who say to ignore it, it can be a growth thing and they will grow out of it.

It could have been made worse by mounting your other horse as over extending his hind legs.

I have now turned my youngster out 24/7 over the winter and I have not seen any locking (It was hard to start with as I like my horses stabled at night all warm and cosy). gentle exercise will help strenghten the muscles around his hind legs.

If in doubt speak to your vet for advice and reasurance, I was devestated when I realised my youngster had it 24hrs after getting him home as he could not move either hind leg, it was horrible, but now im so pleased I have him and would not part with him, if he does not grow out of it I might consider the operation to release the ligaments, if when he is broken and exercise does not help.

Does it go after being out for the day?

 

[CeeBee]

Hi Splash, thanks for your post, you have made me feel a bit better. He lives out 24/7 already, so is doing it wandering around in the field.
I have separated him and Harvey, thinking if he has injured himself then maybe keeping them apart will give him a chance to recover, but if it is a long term thing, then maybe this is pointless?
I have booked the vet to have him gelded next Wednesday, so hopefully this will deter him from mounting Harvey for a few days at least (although having read a post earlier, this may not be the case!).
We have been taking him for short walks just to get him used to the area and being handled and he has been so good. I feel like I totally love him already, so definitely don't want to send him back, but if I'm in for a long term, expensive time, then my OH might have a different opinion!

 

[CBFan]

Don't Panic!

It's a really common thing and is likely to continue untill he stops growing and is fully mature.

the 24/7 turnout will help as it will keep him nice and strong and you could put him n a joint supplement but other than that there is not a hell of a lot you can do for him...

I would personally want to try and avoid growth spurts so avoid high protein diets like balancers and instead go for a high fibre diet with broad spec vit and min supplement added.

As for it being covered up... did you ask his breeder if he'd ever had any physical problems? have you called them since you noticed it?