_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Oh god... just read some stuff on the internet about stringhalt and scared myself silly
Locking hind leg...
- Thread starter _jetset_
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galaxy
Well-Known Member
Know a couple of horse with this. Both were recomended as much TO as possible and put on a joint supplement. One of them was aclient, she put him on Equiflex (Vetvits) and the difference in a month in his movement and schooling as well as his leg not locking, was incredible!
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
OK... this is exactly the same action, but I would say Troy is no where near as bad but the way it holds it out then it is almost snatched up is exactly what I was trying and failing to explain.
However, where this horse drags the leg, Troy does not. He just snatches it up before making the first step so there is no actual dragging of the toe. But the action is spot on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib0K9rQ1aIg
ETS... the bit that is just like Troy is as the horse actually exits the barn and it is straight then snatched up.
However, where this horse drags the leg, Troy does not. He just snatches it up before making the first step so there is no actual dragging of the toe. But the action is spot on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib0K9rQ1aIg
ETS... the bit that is just like Troy is as the horse actually exits the barn and it is straight then snatched up.
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Know a couple of horse with this. Both were recomended as much TO as possible and put on a joint supplement. One of them was aclient, she put him on Equiflex (Vetvits) and the difference in a month in his movement and schooling as well as his leg not locking, was incredible!
[/ QUOTE ]
Strange you mention that as he was on TopSpec Joint supplement for a while when he had a whallop in the leg as it has MSM in it and a friend who works for the company recommended it. I just finished the last of it last week, but my new one should be here before the weekend.
Know a couple of horse with this. Both were recomended as much TO as possible and put on a joint supplement. One of them was aclient, she put him on Equiflex (Vetvits) and the difference in a month in his movement and schooling as well as his leg not locking, was incredible!
[/ QUOTE ]
Strange you mention that as he was on TopSpec Joint supplement for a while when he had a whallop in the leg as it has MSM in it and a friend who works for the company recommended it. I just finished the last of it last week, but my new one should be here before the weekend.
StinkiPinki
Well-Known Member
Some cases of stringhalt can be cured by feeding a very high oil, low starch diet, theres loads on google about this, but it does sound more like stringhalt than a locking patella. Good luck!
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Out of interest StinkiPinki, why do you say it sounds more like stringhalt?
DuckToller
Well-Known Member
Just to add my last horse had locking patella. I couldn't turn him out 24/7 so he just went out as much as possible. I don't think it's anything to do with lack of bedding, more likely he has grown a little and so the dynamics of the joint have changed.
My vet described it well. He said we have one ligament that locks our knees when we stand still, so we don't fall over. The horse has three, so they can sleep standing up (obviously need three to be locked securely for that!). There is a little bony bit that one of the ligaments pass over, and for some reason in some horses the ligament gets caught on the wrong side of it. That is a hopelessly untechnical explanation but that's how I understood it
My horse came with it, sold off cheap by a dealer, and the fitter he got the better it got. Only problem was shoeing, as he found certain angles tricky with his leg and would sometimes snatch his leg away at inopportune moments, but my farrier would jam his hindquarters in the doorway and shoe him sort of propped up. It worked, and my farrier would do impressions of my horse down the pub for a laugh. At least he had a sense of humour over it!
He is now a Grade A showjumper (sadly I sold him so not my doing!) so it obviously hasn't hampered his career.
I was told to keep him as fit as possible as it rarely happens when the muscle mass builds up, but of course that's not possible for you. Vet said long-reining was better than lunging and hill work once ridden. You may find a vet visit is rather inconclusive at this stage, as it's hard to diagnose if he only does it occasionally. Good luck!
My vet described it well. He said we have one ligament that locks our knees when we stand still, so we don't fall over. The horse has three, so they can sleep standing up (obviously need three to be locked securely for that!). There is a little bony bit that one of the ligaments pass over, and for some reason in some horses the ligament gets caught on the wrong side of it. That is a hopelessly untechnical explanation but that's how I understood it
My horse came with it, sold off cheap by a dealer, and the fitter he got the better it got. Only problem was shoeing, as he found certain angles tricky with his leg and would sometimes snatch his leg away at inopportune moments, but my farrier would jam his hindquarters in the doorway and shoe him sort of propped up. It worked, and my farrier would do impressions of my horse down the pub for a laugh. At least he had a sense of humour over it!
He is now a Grade A showjumper (sadly I sold him so not my doing!) so it obviously hasn't hampered his career.
I was told to keep him as fit as possible as it rarely happens when the muscle mass builds up, but of course that's not possible for you. Vet said long-reining was better than lunging and hill work once ridden. You may find a vet visit is rather inconclusive at this stage, as it's hard to diagnose if he only does it occasionally. Good luck!
Law
Well-Known Member
I was thinking upward fixation of the patella as well due to the fact it's so common in youngsters but from reading more of your description it sounded like stringhalt to me. (Although obviously just stabbing in the dark without seeing anything!)
Fingers crossed for a speedy response from the vet.
Fingers crossed for a speedy response from the vet.
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
I spoke to the vet and he said it sounded exactly like the patella getting stuck as others have suggested on here...
The action is just like that on the Youtube link, although not as severe as that, but it definitely locks having watched that. What I was thinking was that locking meant he got completely stuck, which he does not, but there is definitely the locking action having watched that video.
I have watched quite a few on there of stringhalt too and it really does not look the same because the leg becomes stuck out behind him straight (that is the best way I can describe it) and then he pulls it back underneath him which is what I thought was the only action that was happening, hence the concern with stringhalt. But watching the stringhalt videos it looks that they do it from what I would class as a normal stance, whereas Troy only does it when the leg has been left out straight behind him.
Is any of this making sense???
The action is just like that on the Youtube link, although not as severe as that, but it definitely locks having watched that. What I was thinking was that locking meant he got completely stuck, which he does not, but there is definitely the locking action having watched that video.
I have watched quite a few on there of stringhalt too and it really does not look the same because the leg becomes stuck out behind him straight (that is the best way I can describe it) and then he pulls it back underneath him which is what I thought was the only action that was happening, hence the concern with stringhalt. But watching the stringhalt videos it looks that they do it from what I would class as a normal stance, whereas Troy only does it when the leg has been left out straight behind him.
Is any of this making sense???
DuckToller
Well-Known Member
Yes, it makes sense to me, anyway, having had an upwardly mobile patella! Mine used to come out of the stable, and suddenly stop, and there would be a jolt as his leg got stuck, then he would make a backwards and sideways movement, very sudden and almost like a kick-back, and off he would go again, happy as larry.
He did have a huge lumpy scar on that leg, I suspect from catching it on something, but that was before I got him. He caught the back of the stable sometimes with his shoe, but that didn't do him any harm (still got the marks on the wall to this day).
He did have a huge lumpy scar on that leg, I suspect from catching it on something, but that was before I got him. He caught the back of the stable sometimes with his shoe, but that didn't do him any harm (still got the marks on the wall to this day).
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Thanks Llewelyn... didn't know if I was making sense
Troy's seems to happen when he stops. If he stops mid walk to inspect something and leaves that hind leg behind, it is when he comes to move off that it seems to stick, I think stick is probably the word I have been looking for all of this time! It is only when it has been right out behind him, and this morning it happened the once and then he was absolutely perfect (and I was watching him like a bloody hawk too).
The vet did not seem at all concerned, just said to get him out as much as possible and that it did happen in faster growing, bigger young horses. He is quite big, I would say is between 15.3hh and 16hh (nearer the former) and is two in March.
Troy's seems to happen when he stops. If he stops mid walk to inspect something and leaves that hind leg behind, it is when he comes to move off that it seems to stick, I think stick is probably the word I have been looking for all of this time! It is only when it has been right out behind him, and this morning it happened the once and then he was absolutely perfect (and I was watching him like a bloody hawk too).
The vet did not seem at all concerned, just said to get him out as much as possible and that it did happen in faster growing, bigger young horses. He is quite big, I would say is between 15.3hh and 16hh (nearer the former) and is two in March.
amandaco2
Well-Known Member
try not to worry sounds like locking patella
its very common in babies and is best treated with trying to build up a bit of muscle in the hind legs and keeping them moving about as much as poss.
you may have to learn to put the leg back in (or making them back up often unlocks it)
the vast marority grow out of it and even if they dont there is a really good op to cut the ligaments which has a great sucess rate!
although i do know one huge mare who had severe problems even after 2 ops to cut her ligaments.
its very common in babies and is best treated with trying to build up a bit of muscle in the hind legs and keeping them moving about as much as poss.
you may have to learn to put the leg back in (or making them back up often unlocks it)
the vast marority grow out of it and even if they dont there is a really good op to cut the ligaments which has a great sucess rate!
although i do know one huge mare who had severe problems even after 2 ops to cut her ligaments.
bj666
Well-Known Member
Hi , Yes I had the same with a youngster and it was just lack of muscle around the stifle joint and the ligament use to flick over the joint and his leg was locked ! I thought it was broken !!! With work it will come better .
carthorse
Well-Known Member
So sorry that he is worrying you , think he has been chatting to Grace. It might be a good idea to find a stud with other horses of the same age to turn him out as he should have loads of walking exercise. I know this is difficult but it would do him good
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
Hi The_Carthorse... there is simply nothing in the area that would take something at 2 years old. He spent the winter at the one where Han was inseminated and lived in a pen with two others but that is no longer a practical option as a) he is too big to live in that pen with one other and b) they do not take them at that age anyway as many of the stud around here do not keep them until they are this age through lack of land unless they are planning on having them as a stallion etc. When i moved I looked for somewhere for him, but unless it was over an hour and a half away (not an option for me after experiences last spring, not with the stud I may add)
I am on a stud at the moment and he goes out with two other colts his age a few times a week which he thinks is great fun, and hopefully come spring he will be out with them full time
They are in a foaling box together, but there is no way I could put Troy in with them, they wouldn't be able to move
This morning it happened the once when I went in with his breakfast but nothing at all when he was led out (I stopped him several times to see whether it would) and he is going to go back out in a min when I go up to meet the farrier for Grace.
I agree though, I think he has been chatting to Dizzy about how best to make one owner tear her hair out
I am on a stud at the moment and he goes out with two other colts his age a few times a week which he thinks is great fun, and hopefully come spring he will be out with them full time
This morning it happened the once when I went in with his breakfast but nothing at all when he was led out (I stopped him several times to see whether it would) and he is going to go back out in a min when I go up to meet the farrier for Grace.
I agree though, I think he has been chatting to Dizzy about how best to make one owner tear her hair out
Spook
Well-Known Member
I find it alarming that so many people think that a luxating patella is common, it is largely a congenital fault, stock with this problem should not be bred from.
I know this is a tough attitude but too many horses with genetic problems are being bred from resulting in exactly this sort of outcome.
I do hope that with the right treatment you find a soloution to your horses problem, I would agree that as much turnout as you can arrange would be the best option.
I know this is a tough attitude but too many horses with genetic problems are being bred from resulting in exactly this sort of outcome.
I do hope that with the right treatment you find a soloution to your horses problem, I would agree that as much turnout as you can arrange would be the best option.
_jetset_
Well-Known Member
I know neither his dam or sire have suffered from this issue... and yes, I have been told by several people (vets, farriers, breeders) that this can be pretty common in young horses when having a growth spurt, which I believe he is having. Surely it is no different to things happening to teenagers when they undergo huge growth spurts? I know that I for one had issues with my knees at one point because I grew a lot in a short period, but have never since had issues and ran for my county a year later
SirenaXVI
Well-Known Member
It IS common in young horses, purely because they have not got the muscle - ask any vet. I do not agree that these horses should not be bred from - take my mare, she had two locking stifles, once the muscle had built up she has not had even a hint of a problem, she has won national breed classes and now she competes BD elementary, working at medium/adv medium with a view to competing medium (that is until her unfortunate accident) this year, the only thing holding her back is the rider (me!), she flew through her grading and is just the sort of mare that imho should be bred from. BTW she has never ever even had a hint of lameness in her 10 years, and has really active hindlegs.
Spook
Well-Known Member
I bought a yearling colt a few years ago with the intention of keeping him entire and standing him at stud, he was a registered Welsh Cob section D. It soon became apparent that he had aproblem with locking stifles, our vet advised that he be castrated as he should not pass a stallion grading. Thus he was castrated, we kept him out all year round as advised fed him as per instructions and there was a degree of improvement. He was broken to ride and drive as a4yo. but would still occasionally slip his stifle,either one, at will and he could always put them back himself.
We waited till he was five before we had the operation done, both sides were done on the same day at home, after 6 weeks box rest he was brought slowly back into work, he was sold on( the condition was disclosed at time of sale) a year later as a driving/pony club horse and is still going strong 11years later.
It would be interesting to know what the tollerance of this condition is with the various breed societies
We waited till he was five before we had the operation done, both sides were done on the same day at home, after 6 weeks box rest he was brought slowly back into work, he was sold on( the condition was disclosed at time of sale) a year later as a driving/pony club horse and is still going strong 11years later.
It would be interesting to know what the tollerance of this condition is with the various breed societies