Locked Stifle??

[Tinsel Town]

I wondered if this had happened to anyone else and what treatment was given....
I was riding my horse today in the school for approx an hour, not heavy work, mainly walk and trot and getting him onto a contact.
We did a turn on the forhand as on of the last things we were doing, and as we walked out of it my friend suddenly noticed he was limping really badly. (we had only taking 2 strides).
So I got off, and he was holding his right hind up, and wasnt putting any weight on it at all, my friend told me to back him up, which I did, and he seemed to put more weight on it and stepped back a few steps.
I then walked him round the school and kept him moving, and he seemed to be walking more or less ok again, he did look slightly lame though.
I gave him two danalol and turned him out (he lives out 24/7), we thought he had a locked stifle, but wondered if this sort of thing had happened to anyone else and what treatment was given? Im worrying.....
Thanks

 

[suzysparkle]

I've come across two Ponies who did this, one worse than the other, both Welsh Cobs and related. The best thing to do is make them walk backwards as you have found out. The vet said there is an operation that can be done but felt it wasn't necessary. It's something to do with the 'locking mechanism' Horses have that allow them to sleep standing up and the operation stretched something (rather vague but I'm sure that's what he said). Vet also advised the fitter we got the ponies the less likely it was to happen. Certainly there was no need to give them time off after it happened. Good job - one of them did it almost daily.

Interestingly, I have also come across a Horse whose 'locking mechanism' used to fail altogether. If he fell asleep stood up he would fall over. He was a Hungarian Warmblood.