Locking hind leg...

_jetset_

_jetset_

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I will try to be as precise as I can be, but please bear with me...

Troy is rising two (12th March) and is somewhere between 15.3hh and 16hh at the moment. He has been going out in the arena or the round pen every day for an hour while I muck out etc. and some days he goes out with two others his age and has a real loon with them.

On Monday morning I went to pick out right hind and he flew to the other side of the stable. I knew something was not right because he is never like this, so left that leg and walked him out because everything 'looked' and 'felt' normal. When he walked out he looked absolutely fine, but when he stopped to sniff his Mum he left the right hind out and when he went to pick it up to walk off he literally snatched it up.

Anyway, I watched him closely when he went out in the round pen on his own, and this happened two more times and then he was absolutely fine so I just thought he must have caught it in the night or lay on it strangely. He was absolutely 100% when I brought him in, picked it up normally and gave me no further concerns.

This morning he picked it up normally, led out normally, but again when he went to sniff a bucket on the floor he left that leg out and snatched it up as though it had locked again. This is the only time he did it this morning and was trotting in the round pen completely normally (in fact his hind legs looked the best I have seen them look as not really seen him trotting without another horse for a few weeks) and once again he was fine when he came in.

What it looks like to me is that something is locking???

Of course, if this continues, I will be getting my vet out on Friday but it is difficult because it is only the first few seconds of being out of his stable where it shows up.

This is definitely the side he lies on because he has stable marks all down this side. Up until today he has been on a small amount of shavings on rubber matting because he is grotesquely filthy, but I am considering deep littering him to see whether it is something that is being caused by how he lies on it.

Any thoughts???
 
This sounds like it might be a locking patella, I had it with my TB and is common in young hourses.

I was advised to keep mine walking as much as possible i.e. live out all day she was stabled throughout, as the muscles build up it strengthens itself and becomes less of a problem, pm me if you want more info.
 
Thanks Ship... will PM you now if that is ok!

I am hoping to turn him out in the spring and leave him out
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He could have been out all winter but he got really bad mud rash which then lead to him being really poorly with an infection
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So it was recommended not to have him out until it had dried up.
 
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I agree about locking patella.

Out, out, out and vet for diagnosis......

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I am going to give it a few more days before I get the vet as they are coming out next week for vaccines anyway...

I am hoping he will start being turned out full time soon with the yard owner's colt in a field not far from my house, but it is just a matter of time and waiting until the ground dries up a bit. We are on damned clay up here so the fields just retain so much water
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I am hoping that it will be some time in March though...
 
Got the groom to put him back out in the afternoons for another hour... at least it is breaking up his stable time and waiting for the vet to phone me back
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Getting him out more seems to be the general consensus... He is going to start going out twice a day for an hour from today (he has been going out once up until now) and then when the fields are not quite so bog like, he will be living out hopefully.

I will try to get him out as much as I possibly can in the round pen as this seemed to ease it completely and he was bucking and rearing without any discomfort!
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I am feeling a bit better as I have been worrying about it.
 
Ditto others, locking patella. Common in horses with upright conformation, growing horses and those lacking muscle tone. The best way to treat is exercise. Keeping in will make the matter worse. Worse case scenario one of the ligaments on the patella has to be surgically cut to stop the locking. There is a consequent risk of arthritis in joint and other problems. Some horses just need more exercise, some need actual work/training but the earlier you sort it the better or it just gets worse. The leg can lock out behind and get stuck in severe cases!
You really need to get him out of the stable ASAP!
 
There is no where in the area where he can go and live out, that is why he is in... In an ideal world he would have been out all winter, but in the North West that is simply not an option. I did this last winter and had some consequences as a result which I will not go into on an open forum
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I am trying to get him out as much as possible, twice a day for an hour, possibly three times a day depending on whether I can get back there in the evenings (I work til late). In a month or two I hope he can start living out, but there are no yards that offer this around here at this time of year.

It only started on Monday which is why I am trying to think of something which could be adding to it, at the moment the only thing I can think is that he has less bedding because of how dirty he is.
 
I was planning on starting him off with some long lining, just in walk and trot initially... would this also help to build up the strength?

He has quite long legs and is growing again at the moment
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He has been long lined before, so it would not be a huge ask of him.
 
My horse has always done this off and on. I had a very highly respected specialist have a look at him and he reckoned it was the patella as above, his intermittent locking was caused due to it 'floating' a little too much due to an old injury and sometimes getting locked in. Although the cause of my boy's is most likely different from yours, what he told me was that if he does lock up and start to leave his foot behind I should ask him to step backwards rather than forwards to snap it back to normal, something about it being more comfortable I reckon? Could be worth knowing, can PM you the details of the specialist if need be.
 
Have you thought of taking him for a walk on the road either walking alonside or riding a pushbike if you feel that is safe enough Trotting may be more helpful than walking hence the bike
 
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My horse has always done this off and on. I had a very highly respected specialist have a look at him and he reckoned it was the patella as above, his intermittent locking was caused due to it 'floating' a little too much due to an old injury and sometimes getting locked in. Although the cause of my boy's is most likely different from yours, what he told me was that if he does lock up and start to leave his foot behind I should ask him to step backwards rather than forwards to snap it back to normal, something about it being more comfortable I reckon? Could be worth knowing, can PM you the details of the specialist if need be.

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Would you mind PMing their details as it cannot hurt to have a quick word with them
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Thanks for the tip, he actually has been stepping backwards himself so I will make sure he steps backwards from now on.
 
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Have you thought of taking him for a walk on the road either walking alonside or riding a pushbike if you feel that is safe enough Trotting may be more helpful than walking hence the bike

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Ermm, he has never seen traffic
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Plus, we are on a 60mph road so I don't think that would be a suitable option although a very good suggestion if I was somewhere quieter. I can walk him around the yard though, although not really enough room to trot.

I don't want to do too much circle work, which is why I wondered if long lining would be of any benefit and once we have brakes etc in place, I could take him down the drive on the lines (with someone at the front just in case) as he is quite brave.
 
Locking patella is a pretty common symptom in growing youngsters, especially warmbloods. As said before they usually outgrow it as they get stronger. Being out 24/7 will help a lot. Introducing him to long lines and doing some straight line work isn't a bad idea at all in the meantime.
 
If you have a round pen, can he live in it over-night? That might keep him moving a bit more.
If it still locks when it comes to riding time then you may want to consider the very simple procedure done to snip the ligaments before it has time to alter his muscle development.
 
Hi jetset, my three year old started doing this and vet confirmed it was a locking patella. He did advise best thing for her is to be out 24 hours a day. Appreciate you can't do this at the moment, but he also suggested lots of long reigning and hill work at walk and trot would help along with a little bit of lungeing. My mare is in foal so thats an added complication and the cause is due to muscle wastage across the hindquarters...she came back from stud looking q poor and I have struggled to put more weight on her and build condition over the winter. Not sure if it has already been suggested but if he/she does get locked up making them walk backwards for a few steps is the easiest way to free them up.
 
only a suggestion with the road work it depends on your location
if it becomes locked pushing back seems to be a help.In Ireland a lot of small studs kep their youngsters in pens outside on woodchips from local tree surgeons rather than stables again very much depends on youre situation
 
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Locking patella is a pretty common symptom in growing youngsters, especially warmbloods. As said before they usually outgrow it as they get stronger. Being out 24/7 will help a lot. Introducing him to long lines and doing some straight line work isn't a bad idea at all in the meantime.

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Thanks... looks like it is time for my Troy monster to start some grown up work on the lines. He's such a cool customer though, just gets on with whatever I ask of him
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If you have a round pen, can he live in it over-night? That might keep him moving a bit more.
If it still locks when it comes to riding time then you may want to consider the very simple procedure done to snip the ligaments before it has time to alter his muscle development.

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Thanks for the info regarding the operation, I thought it was quite complicated so good to know it is not.

He would not stay out in the round pen on his own at night unfortunately. It is away from the stables so he would not be able to see any others
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But I can get him out in it for a few hours a day both with company and without.
 
I agree with everyone, sounds like a locking stifle, when Sirena was 2 both stifles would lock, it is very very common in young horses. My vet suggested 24 hour turnout, however, S was so bad that they would even lock in the field. We then walked her over poles twice daily to help build up the muscle and the problem disappeared once her hind end had muscled up. I would not worry too much, like I said, it is very common in youngsters and has no bearing on them once they come into work. Very occassionally (seems to be more so in the smaller breeds) it is necessary for the vet to operate on the stifle, but most will resolve with age and muscle development.

Try not to worry, although I know it is easier said than done, and I drove my vet to distraction when it was happening to my horse - her words were "Gill, don't worry, you pay me to worry and I am not worried, so don't worry, she'll be fine" lol never forgotten that! She was right btw
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Thank you so much Sirena... how is your beautiful girl getting on at horspital? I read your regionals report but did not see an update on her
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I guess I have to be a bit more laid back and just try to help any way I can. I know I cannot have him out 24/7 at the moment, so have to find something else to help. I can get him out more, I will do some pole work because he just wanders over them so can do this in hand, and will also start long lining him in walk and we might even give trot a whirl
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I have not got a pm??

My vet suggested straigh lines at first and hill work (slight slopws first) so you dont do too much I was advised not to do tight cirles (min 20m) after a couple of weeks as this puts extra pressure on. It is easier for the leg to lock back in by pushing backwards instead of dragging them, if this does not work someone making a clap / bang noise behind to make a SMALL startle worked with mine but she was quite saine and did not go galloping off and was never spooky.

Hope it helps.

p.s. It did not affect my competing at dressage but I did always make sure I had an exercise sheet on to make sure the muscles were kept warm to hrlp (2 in winter)
 
We seem to share the same set of medical maladies with our horses - first urticaria and now locking stifles!!

As others have said walking the horse backwards will help to free things up and try to get as much turn out as possible. I know this is not ideal given your ground conditions and mud fever but just do as much as you can. It was explained to me that it is just bones growing quicker than tendons and soft tissue and all should correct itself as the horse physically 'grows into himself'.

Don't lose too much sleep over it.
 
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I have not got a pm??

My vet suggested straigh lines at first and hill work (slight slopws first) so you dont do too much I was advised not to do tight cirles (min 20m) after a couple of weeks as this puts extra pressure on. It is easier for the leg to lock back in by pushing backwards instead of dragging them, if this does not work someone making a clap / bang noise behind to make a SMALL startle worked with mine but she was quite saine and did not go galloping off and was never spooky.

Hope it helps.

p.s. It did not affect my competing at dressage but I did always make sure I had an exercise sheet on to make sure the muscles were kept warm to hrlp (2 in winter)

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Ahhh... I sent a nice long one
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Will resend the edited version
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Thanks for that info... his is not 'locking' as he just walks off or steps back but he snaps it up rather than just picks it up if that makes sense. But he does not seem too bothered by it at the moment.
 
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We seem to share the same set of medical maladies with our horses - first urticaria and now locking stifles!!

As others have said walking the horse backwards will help to free things up and try to get as much turn out as possible. I know this is not ideal given your ground conditions and mud fever but just do as much as you can. It was explained to me that it is just bones growing quicker than tendons and soft tissue and all should correct itself as the horse physically 'grows into himself'.

Don't lose too much sleep over it.

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Thank you... I have to admit, I feel 100% better after posting this! It is times like this that I realise how great this forum can be
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How is your spotty pony getting on? Mine had a flair up this weekend, the only thing I can think of is that the haylage is slightly different, but they have all come down now and are hardly visible. I just upped her Flower of Sulphur
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If it isnt locking at the patella then maybe you need to consider it might be the beginnings of string-halt? I dont know about typical onset ages tbh
I'd ask the vet to take a look or email a video of it to the vet for confirmation.
 
It is difficult to describe because I don't know where it is locking... But I would say it is more locking than the string halt action as know a horse very well that has this and although I could be wrong, I would say it was quite different.

It is when he straightens it out behind him, so say he was walking then stops to inspect something (these are the times it has happened) so has all four legs not square as still mid walk if that makes sense. Then he snaps it back up straight underneath him as though you have flicked his fetlock with a whip. Does this make any sense?

However, it does look locked, just not to the point where he cannot move it and needs me to do something about it, that is what I was trying say when it doesn't lock. He sorts it out himself rather than me having to push him back or ask him forwards and so far has only done it when he has stood still, not when actually moving.
 
Meant to add... I can turn him on a tight circle both ways and he steps under himself to turn (ie. crosses inside hind inside the outside hind rather than just stepping sideways).
 
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