locking stifle?

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catherinem

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hi guys! i have a 6year old section a mare who i an absolute love. When i went into her stable last night she walked towards me and trailed her toe of her off hind accross the floor then the stifle looked to click back into place.... i walked her out and after a few strides she seemed to be walking normally again, i turned her and she trailed the toe again took a few awquard steps and then again back to normal. i susected that it could be locking stifle and after watching some videos of youtube i amsure thats what it is. ive owne her since she was a yearling and its never happened before.
i was just wondering if anyone could offere any advice as to what to do with her, does the condition get worse, is there anything i can do to help treat it?
i dont have a jockey small enogh for her so she is lunged a couple of times per week and waked out usually about once per week just to keep her doing something and to try and stopthe little cutie getting too fat.
thanks​
 
hi there, sounds as if her/his stifle is slipping.. my vet has told me lots of trotting up and down hills, this will put it right...It is not a joint condition but a muscle..
 
Can be due to muscle problems/disease (although may have other causes too).

Worth checking that she's on a good vit/min supplement which contains organic selenium (selenium yeast) as that is quite often deficient in UK forage, and if it is deficient it can lead to muscle problems which can then lead to other stuff like locking stifles, stringhalt type movement etc.

Sarah
 
My girl was also bad as a 2/3yr old shes now 4 and still gets it a little, shes better on full turnout, her paddock is on a slope, only comes in if weather is really bad and is worse if shes in. I walk and trot her over raised poles, lots of up hill trotting but the joint does slip going down hill. If she locks up in stable, push her backwards until it pops/ unsticks. Vet told me its more a case of the muscles not being developed around the stifle and the ligament catching on bone (fixation of the patella). Was also told to avoid circles and bends esp. Lungeing. Keep her doing straight lines inhand work is fab, i make obstacle courses, raised poles a maze to walk.backwards through.
 
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Hi there, yes Lynn my vet had told me exactly the same. Lots of straight lines, no circles. push back rather than keep going forward. lots of trotting uphill..and he said exactly the same cause as your Bella. Love the Maze!!!
 
All the inhand stuff has been a god send when transfering to ridden work, and shes a dream to handle, i can stand by her side and say over and she moves away , a light touch with my hand or leg and i get a response, yeh its a little frustrating not being able to just ride all the time but the strengthening work will make her much nicer to ride and prolong her working life !
 
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