Locking Stifle

[Halfpass]

We have a new lady on yard with new pony. The pony was said to be 6 but at a 5 stage vetting was then changed to 4 they knocked some off the price and pony passed vetting with flying colours. They have had pony for just under 2 weeks and it has locked its stifle 3/4 times now, he rights it himself eventually after 10 - 15 mins but for that time can't move. She had a 14 day warantee on pony which finishes tomorrow and as most insurance policies can not claim for injury for 14 days so my question is should she just give pony back under warranty or wait till after 14 days get vet and claim on insurance?
What is the sucess rate of operating and is this likely to cause him problems in the future?

 

[brightmount]

A horse on our yard has this - it's a major nuisance but the owner has decided against the operation on weighing up the pros and cons. I think it isn't always successful. The leg generally locks overnight. The horse is still ridden and does everything including jumping, but he has to have heel wedges and shoeing is expensive. Plus he's always losing them! He is on Superflex, I don't know that it helps much.

I think I would be reluctant to take on a horse with this kind of problem personally, seeing the kind of stress and distress it can cause, not to mention the extra expense.

 

[clipertyplop]

i may be wrong and if i am im sure somone will correct me, but locking stiffles is an un soundness....if you proceed to go operation route it will be a lot of hard work, stable rest and walking out several times a day, and correct me if im wrong but if i was buying a pony i would want to ride it not spend 12 months nursing it not when there are lots of nice ponys out there and to insure a pony knowing there is somthing wrong and not declaring it may land you in trouble sorry to be so down on this but please tell your friend to think very carfully about it

 

[KrujaaLass]

Bought a horse 15.1 ID cross 2 years ago from a dealer.did not get him vetted. He was to live out but got back late so he was kept in overnight. Got him out in morning and his leg got fixed made a terrible cracking sound and went back after a minute or so. Called dealer she said to phone vet who when I described it said it was delayed release of the patella. she later came out and examined him (He was also three instead of 4 and half). Vet said with prpoper exercise he could come right in six months or two years may have an unrideable horse. Dealer said she would take him back but he was to be picked up driven to scotland and shipped back to Ireland. I could not do this to him. (He had whinnied to me from paddock)Dealer gave me £250 back .I now have a horse who I hack everyday just very occasianl his leg will freeze but i just ride him through it and he is fine. Just try not to stable him for long periods.

 

[Kat1e]

If it's only 4, then it may well grow out of this as it matures. Worth bearing in mind if it's great in all other ways. I have one with a locking stifle and it doesn't cause her any problems at all when ridden- she's a great little pony.

If the leg locks up and can't unlock it, make the pony walk backwards, that should help unlock it (so I've been told- mine doesn't lock up badly so have never tried it).

Longer term, shoes with raised heels, a supplement like cortaflex and lots of hill work should minimise problems relatively cheaply, without the problems associated with the operation for this condition.

Hope that's of some help.

I don't mind putting up with this in my pony at all- she is great otherwise- but if this lady doesn't want to take on a horse with this problem, she should return him while she has chance.

 

[Happytohack]

We have a 3 year old with this problem. To unlock the "stuck leg", push the pony back and turn it at the same time and the leg should unfreeze. With plenty of gentle excercise - ideally walking up hills - the problem should right itself. I wouldn't go down the operation route myself. If the pony is under warranty, I would be inclined to return it as it is technically unsound.

 

[pixiebee]

dont return it, i nearly did this with my pony who i baught at 4 yrs old-he had locking stifles-locked everyday-came right withing 15 mins- now 8 yrs on-he has had no treatment for it other then wedge shoes 5 yrs ago and i now jump sj and xc and hunt him with no problems atall!!!! it never caused much harm and still hasnt til this day (fingers x!) I got a vet out to just check him as i laready knew what the problem was, vet said wedge shoes for up to a yr and uphill work to build muscle up-after a few months of uphill work they stopped locking no problem!!!!

 

[conniegirl]

A friend of mine had a pony whos stifle locked it grew out of it by the time it was 6, nothing special needed.

 

[Kelly1982]

My old horse had locking stiffles and he competes BSJA.

Personally i would never put them through the operation as they can grow out of it as there muscles strenghten. I would just try to work the pony to strengthen its back end which will make it easier for the pony to unlock its stiffle itself. Also if you push them backwards it helps them unlock it.

Its up to her if she wants to send the pony back but i never had any problems with it and my horse had no treatment.

 

[hollyzippo]

I work at a vets and am a Mctimoney Corley Spinal therapist so see quite a lot with the condition. Many native types have it and will grow out of it so it neednt ever become a problem. Unfortunately tho, if they dont and need an op it can have a poor prognosis for competition horses. It depends on the workload they want it for? If it was mine I think it is quite a risk, maybe send it back while they have the chance unless they are happy to possibly just be able to hack in the future if it doesnt grow out?
Backing the horse does often relieve it. Having somebody to do musculoskeletal work often helps too. Hope this is of use!

 

[BethH]

My horse developed this as a secondary symptom to a bad back problem ( not suggesting for a second this pony has a back problem). My vet advised that with work i.e., building up correctly, the muscle would support and should resolve the problem. However to get the correct muscle support, the horse should be taught to use it's back end correctly which can be done by long reining and with ridden work ensuring pony has correct pace and balance from back legs slowly but surely!

Hope that makes sense, good luck, but I would be looking for a substantial reduction in price especially as if only 3 shouldn't really be doing much work so can't resolve problem easily in the short term and will be another year before can go in to any kind of more formal work.