locking stifles in a 4 yr old? Big problem?

[arwenplusone]

Just seen this ad,

http://www.horsedeals.co.uk/horses/horses_for_sale/Stunning_163_4_Year_Old_Gelding__08-12-08-55180

lovely, lovely horse, but has locking stifles. I have to admit to have never come across this as a problem, so I don't know much about whether it can be managed or not.

I am presuming that if the people who own him don't think he is worth much with this problem then he isn't?

Thoughts?

 

[AmyMay]

Don't touch it with a bargepole!!!!!!

 

[arwenplusone]

That's what I thought myself - but feeling a bit blinded by his looks, lol.

 

[AmyMay]

I agree - what a beautiful, stunning horse.

They must be devastated at the problem developing....

 

[Honeypots]

I would want to know more...

Locking stifles in a 4 yr old is not necessarily a huge problem..most improve with exercise .

Wouldn't necessarily put me off.

 

[arwenplusone]

totally and utterly.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
ocking stifles in a 4 yr old is not necessarily a huge problem..most improve with exercise .

[/ QUOTE ]
Why risk £2k to find out???

The only horses I have known with the problem have not had happy outcomes.....

 

[JS65]

I was always told that locking stifles was due to weak muscles around the stilfle, which was why its common in very young horses .
I would have thought this horse should have grown out of it as he looks quite well developed.
Shame as this is a stunning looking horse

 

[arwenplusone]

hmm yes, and I would think the owners of this horse would have persevered if it could be rectified by exercise alone - he doesn't look weak or under worked to me.

 

[T_K]

My fell pony had this problem when she was a youngster...it wasn't a massive problem then and she grew out of it when she was in regular work. I think it is due to weak muscles and isn't a major problem IMO.

 

[Honeypots]

It says they are only seen when stabled so I imagine it can't be that horrific.

 

[Honeypots]

I've had 2 ponies with it. Both improved no end with exercise and living out.
I imagine with a competition horse it could be a problem as the horse may require long periods of stabling...

 

[Worried1]

Locking stifles are generally improved with correct and regular work and muslce development.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care-index/1370/41501.html?cid=1370&aid=41501

You would need to have a look to see the extent of the problem and discuss with your vet. If you have a limited budget you might find yourself with a very nice horse albeit with a problem.

Long term what would be your plans? As you would need to factor re-selling if he was not for keeps.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
It says they are only seen when stabled so I imagine it can't be that horrific.

[/ QUOTE ]
Locking stifles are not horrific - and as you say, can sometimes be seen in youngsters, who then grow out of it.

However, looking at this very well developed four year old it's not a gamble I would take to think that it would grow out of the problem.

The horse looks to have been professionally produced - and I imagine will have been gone over with a fine tooth comb by a vet to see what the prognosis was. The fact that they are selling it for pennies signals to me that this horse has a permanent problem, that will quite probably cut it's life significantly short.

Surgery is an option - but why spend £2k on a horse, knowing that a significant amount of money is going to have to be spent to put it right - with no certainty?

 

[T_K]

I think the problem would be that the horse is stabled. IMO a horse with locking stifles needs to live out.

 

[jendie]

I think this problem must be what is known as 'slipping patella' in dogs. It most commonly occurs in dogs where there is little angulation in the hindquarters and the dog is rather straight at the stifle. There are varying degrees and in some the patella (kneecap) slips in and out as the dog moves, it creates a sort of 'bunnyhop' as the dogs goes along.

The more severe cases need an op that tightens the kneecap, the less severe manage without.

If this horse is badly affected I would think any exercise that requires strength in the backend (eg jumping) would be most likely to cause a problem.

I think any buyer would need an opinion from a specialist.

What a shame, it is such a beautiful looking horse.

 

[Evadiva1514]

If it was me, i'd definitely go and see him. One of mine has this problem and has done for the last 11 years. We first noticed it within days of buying him. It has never caused him any problems whatsoever and before retirement he regularly competed and hunted. My vet told me it was purely mechanical and to keep him in regular work and keep his weight down. In regular work his locking stifles disappeared and even now, retired and stabled for a fair amount of time over winter his locking stifles don't appear to cause a problem. It certainly hasn't and won't be a death sentence for my horse and has never hindered his ridden career. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[friesianfan69]

I wouldnt personally go out and buy a horse with this problem, if you,d bought him then found out then yes do what you can to help it, it can be operated on im told

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]


The horse looks to have been professionally produced - and I imagine will have been gone over with a fine tooth comb by a vet to see what the prognosis was. The fact that they are selling it for pennies signals to me that this horse has a permanent problem, that will quite probably cut it's life significantly short.


[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly - this is why I haven't been to see it.
If it was somewhere in a less professional looking home I think I would be more tempted. But if you had a horse that was worth £12k you would make damn sure you had a full and expert diagnosis on a problem before you sold it for £2k.

 

[JS65]

Ditto

 

[annret]

What do you want him for, though? If it is RC/hacking, go see him.

 

[quirky]

My friends horse that had locking stifles came 3rd at RHIS, she sold it a coulpe of years back for £15K.

 

[Flame_]

Far too good to be true if its only problem is locking stifles!

Unless it happens nearly every day no matter what management changes they make.If the horse was useful with the problem, they'd be asking at least £5k IMO.

 

[jinglejoys]

Both Malaga and Blue had this.
Blue grew out of it.
Malaga's has almost gone now although it does show occasionally still after a three hour trailer ride but a few backing excersizes and it soon rights itself.
Blue was my first experiance of it but the vet just said pleanty of excersize,hill work and backing up.
Malaga's started after a short period of confinement and then he went to a trainer where he was stabled and his excersize paddock was only small.He has a four acre paddock at home and blue to boss him about.It is gradually disappearing as he gets older.

 

[T_K]

Sorry jinglejoys, your post really made me laugh as when we first started to ride my Fell pony she preferred to go backwards, fast...perhaps this is why she grew out of her stifle problem!!!

 

[Tia]

As much as he is a beautiful horse, don't consider him please. If he had been a young horse who had always had UFP, then that would be a different matter, but for a horse to all of a sudden develop it at 4 years old, would have alarms bells ringing in my ears!

I've seen, and dealt successfully, with UFP a number of times during my life with horses ... however I have a horse with the worst UFP I've come across and much as she is a very beautiful horse, and you can ride her, I know in my heart that she will never ever come right 100%. She is a sight better than when I first bought her a few years ago, but she'll never truly recover. I'm in the same boat as this seller; what should be a 20K horse isn't really worth anything, let alone 2K (although I have a buyer who has placed a deposit on the horse and wants to buy her for 1K).

If you really can't get him out of your mind, then go and have a look ... but really, don't pay more than a few hundred quid if you choose to buy him.

 

[arwenplusone]

I'm not even going to look tbh, Tia - I think that if the sellers thought he was worth £12k then they would have done everything they could to make him come right (wouldn't you - he is lovely). So I think that they have concluded the problem will never ever come right.

Wouldn't eant to fall in love with him & then regret it.

Shuch a shame as he is lovely