Opinions, please

Cinnamontoast

Cinnamontoast

Fais pas chier!
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6 July 2010
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A horse at the yard had a locked stifle last week. Vet came, he's been on box rest with in hand walks only since, although put in a small paddock once or twice.

Yesterday, somebody attempted to lunge him on three feet of line. I suggested that possibly this was not the best idea. She stopped as the horse refused to budge. The horse has a slightly malformed pastern on the other hind that wasn't locked, possibly a birth defect. He is very difficult to lunge anyway, don't know if this is related to the slight malformation.

I spoke to his owner (she's a good mate but because she's very untruthful, we're not particularly close anymore) today, saying that the sharer had tried to lunge and maybe it wasn't the best idea. She claims the vet says lunging is fine, even though the locking stifle was only a week ago. I think she's not telling the truth. The vet hasn't seen him since the stifle locked.

Is it a bad idea to lunge him? (I'm keeping well out of it now, just wanted opinions)
 
As you said it is not really your problem and best left to the owner, however usually treatment for stifle issues such as this once the initial swelling or soreness has gone, would be plenty of turnout, light exercise to build up the muscles in the area which would gradually increase as the horse gets fitter. Some lungeing will not harm but not if it is the only exercise it gets.

Being stood in a box 24/7 then lunged would in my opinion do more harm than good but it is their horse.
 
Depends why it locked. Congenital locking stifles are treated with more work, not less, and lunging on a 20m circle does help. So does lateral work, collection etc. If due to injury then surely there should have been a rehab programme from the vet?
 
I'd say it's not your problem, you mentioned it to owner, thats as far as your responsibility goes. My made was last seen by the vet on tuesday, that doesn't mean we didn't speak, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday saturday, Sunday and today. Each day the. Vets assesing my reports back on changes and progress and giving me advice etc. my vet told me when he saw my mare that she needed box rest, by Wednesday he told me over phone that limited turnout was ok. You do not know what the vet said or did not say
 
It's the first time it's locked as far as we know. He has walked round the yard and the paddock, nothing more, since it happened. I feel a bit responsible as I got the owner back into horses (she's been through four since, kept two, sold two). She found this one whilst at my house and phoned immediately, buying him unseen. Until he arrived, she had no idea he had a malformed pastern. :(

I have no idea what the vet said, you're right. I will keep well out of it. It's not my business, I'm just concerned for the horse as the owner is not the most knowledgable.
 
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