Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
What does that mean? Is it the same as upward fixation of the patella?
Thank you
Thank you
Putting stifle out
- Thread starter Clodagh
- Start date
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
Does no one on here know!?
twiggy2
Well-Known Member
never heard of it
ChesnutsRoasting
Well-Known Member
Is it referring to dislocation?
bakewell
Well-Known Member
subluxated stifle (used to be "sticky stifle" in 80s)
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
Bakewell - apparently my young horse has done this, and I don't know what he has done! Lady who is schooling him is not worried, although did get vet to check.
bakewell
Well-Known Member
Ok, this from my basis of 80s horsemanship and modern veterinary techniques may have an answer.
Once it subluxates it pops out of alignment and they can sometimes look to almost drag it (think the reverse of looking at stringhalt). Turn away for a few weeks and it comes right. It never goes away. They can be sound for ages and then it goes again. My first horse had sticky stifle; hence was affordable!
However! I do know that subluxated pasterns are linked to straight hocks, but where there is a traumatic rather than structural cause the pastern can be screwed into alignment surgically.
I don't think this is of any use but is the extent of my knowledge.
Once it subluxates it pops out of alignment and they can sometimes look to almost drag it (think the reverse of looking at stringhalt). Turn away for a few weeks and it comes right. It never goes away. They can be sound for ages and then it goes again. My first horse had sticky stifle; hence was affordable!
However! I do know that subluxated pasterns are linked to straight hocks, but where there is a traumatic rather than structural cause the pastern can be screwed into alignment surgically.
I don't think this is of any use but is the extent of my knowledge.
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
That is great, thank you very much. Hopefully it will go away for as long as possible then!
NZJenny
Well-Known Member
Now I know what we are talking about - I have two horses (same sire - it can be hereditary) who suffer from this. Both typically drag the affected toe slightly. Most people don't notice it, but if you ride on hard sand for example you can see the tracks.
It varies in my two from out and out lame for anywhere from a couple of days to months, to an ongoing low grade lameness. My gelding has had no problems for four years, after I retired him from endurance, but then just before easter must have popped it in the paddock and has been lame ever since -this is the second time he has been lame for this length of time. On other occasions he has been lame for just a few days and then been fine.
My little mare, has only been very lame once and she was fine after a few days. However, she can only tolerate so much work before she exhibits a low grade lameness, which requires rest for a couple of months before it comes right.
It seems to be (IME anyway) quite unpredictable.
It varies in my two from out and out lame for anywhere from a couple of days to months, to an ongoing low grade lameness. My gelding has had no problems for four years, after I retired him from endurance, but then just before easter must have popped it in the paddock and has been lame ever since -this is the second time he has been lame for this length of time. On other occasions he has been lame for just a few days and then been fine.
My little mare, has only been very lame once and she was fine after a few days. However, she can only tolerate so much work before she exhibits a low grade lameness, which requires rest for a couple of months before it comes right.
It seems to be (IME anyway) quite unpredictable.
bakewell
Well-Known Member
^totally this! We'd have a days hunting and then it'd go weeks later on a hack. Whilst obv lame it seemed more a mechanical failure to them, almost like a dead leg, than say a bruised sole.
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
Well you two aren't sounding overly positive now. Horses, who'd have 'em. 
bakewell
Well-Known Member
Well you two aren't sounding overly positive now. Horses, who'd have 'em.
Horse was at least 14 when I got him, ridden all over the place (hunting, xc, dressage) til mid twenties retired to occasional hack and field and lived another 10 years. Hard to say his age as it was pre-passports but he was certainly very old. Died in his field when he was sound. He wasn't lame any more than an accident prone horse. He was some massive heinz 57 clean legged cob so I don't know if that made it worse, with the weight. Good horse that one!
My grandfather would say "he's slipped his stifle" but that's just phrasing.
Clodagh
Playing chess with pigeons
Just spoke to lady and she said he should be fine, she was away and thinks her pupil may have done a bit too much canter work with him in the school. I am not to worry!