Locking Patellas (potential new horse)

[kateknights]

Hi, am off to look at another horse tonight, i have just phoned up about her and got told that as a 5yr old she had locking patellas! I have never heard of this before! Does anyone have any experience with this at all?
She had keyhole on it and the owner said that it has never bothered her since?
Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks guys
Kate x

 

[millimoo]

I'd speak to your vet, I think it also depends which ligament was involved.
I think a form of treatment is to cut one of the Patela ligaments (there are 3 in total) - can't remember which one, but it may be different in each case.
I would however ask the question as to how this effects the stifle joint long term due to arthritis etc.
My mums horse had a terrible stifle injury and one of his patella ligaments was partially severed, 4 years on and he has mechanical low grade lameness and swings his leg slightly - he had a big trauma, so I may therefore be wrong in terms of linking the two.
He was also a Dressage Horse where soundness / straightness matters, but as a lively hack / hunter you'd never really notice, and it doesn't matter.

 

[millimoo]

Also see Delta99's post about locking Stifle two below your post..... there's some usfeul replies on there - lack of muscle or OCD.
As said before, speak to vet and discuss what the horse is for - Goodluck

 

[cronkmooar]

I have a yearling colt that has this in both legs - vet advised that they usually grow out of it but that if it bothered him after he was fully grown he could be operated on.

I didn't go into massive detail with him on this because currently it is irrelevant however I do remember him saying it is an absolute last resort to do it and that there is an increased chance of arthritic changes earlier in life.

Sorry can't be more help - but if I were you I would speak indepth with your vet to clarify the implications of this surgery

 

[Spook]

Do you intend to breed from her at all? If you do discuss it with your vet, it is generally a hereditory problem. Personally I wouldn't risk it.

We had a welsh secD operated on about 12 years ago, he's still going strong riding and driving. We were told there was a risk of arthritis occuring so maybe we've been lucky.