Locking Patella??

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JessicaKara

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My mare is 15 now and for the past few years around the start of summer she develops a problem with her back leg. If she has been stood still when she goes to walk off her left leg will only moves a few inches forward and will not take a full step, she looks very stiff but with each step she steps longer until she eventually starts walking completely normal again.
She has had many vets look at her and been to the equine hospital repeatedly over the years for tests but they have never been able to diagnose anything as she walks if off after a few strides, all we have been told is it is likely to be a locking patella.
In the past it hasn't worried us too much as it usually only last a couple of weeks but this year it seems much worse and is lasting longer.
Just wondering if anyone could suggest any advice or anything that may help, or suggest anything else that it may be. I have put her on a cortaflex glucosamine powder and have been exercising her over poles but she doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Many Thanks
 
If your horse has a locking patella then the only remedy is an operation and that is if it is sucessful.

I was always under the impression that you should never do more than walk and trot with a horse suffering from locking patella as if they lock up during a canter or going over poles the end result can be rather nasty even without a rider on board.

If you are definetly not sure if it is locking patella then you could try vetrofen, we use it on a 15 yearold anglo arab, he used to come out of the stable so stiff looking and when ridden would take a long time to loosen up, this is the only suppliment that has worked for him, we give 1 sachet AM and PM.

Good luck :-)
 
My 5 year old mare has this :)
Stretches really help..like picking the leg up and pulling it up..hold it for 5...then bring it out and hold it for 5 and do exercises like this everyday. Also to unlock it easily just ask the horse to move backwards a few steps :)
I find exercises helps a lot...you can tell when my mare has a couple of days off :)
Best of luck
xxxxx
 
I had a mare with this. She had an operation to cut one of the tendons which covered the patella. The tendon had been stretched by 2 inches where it had kept being hooked over the patella (this is the 'locking bit'). It was the best thing we could have done. She went onto being a jumping pony, so anything is possible!
 
My little shetland has this - I find hill work and him losing weight have helped.

That said it's year round irrespective of weather and such.

On the otherhand my mare is similar when in season - she is notably short on one hind as she comes into season - think it is discomfort - am going to try a hormone supp to try and help.
 
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