Orchardbeck
Well-Known Member
I had a Physio out to see my mare in Nov last year and she mentioned she may have a stifle related issue ( we had always assumed she was developing spavins but not the case). Since then she hasn't been in a massive amount of work as I've been pregnant, but she was being lunged for a while.
On the lunge she was showing stiffness when the affected limb (near hind) was on the outside of the circle, but it did often ease with time.
She has always rested a toe on that particular leg, but sometimes shows difficulty in placing the hoof fully flat - it's not nice to watch. She is on joint supplements, and the vet gave me some danilon to try to see if it was pain related, but it didn't seem to make much difference.
This morning the limb was actually shivering for a few seconds before she put the heel down.
Has anyone experienced this type of thing, and what treatment route did you take? I suspect long reining up and down hills will be useful, and I imagine very short, rolled hind toes, but I wondered if Physio had made a difference to your horse? She has always been quite weak behind and I suspect this is a long term issue. She has slight cow hocks, and her hind legs are more underneath her, so I guess conformation is playing a big part here too.
My mare is 23, once baby is here (any day now!) i'll be getting the physio out again as more helpful than the vet, no disrespect! I don't really want to go down any invasive joint medication route if we can help it but would be interested to hear your rehab stories.
On the lunge she was showing stiffness when the affected limb (near hind) was on the outside of the circle, but it did often ease with time.
She has always rested a toe on that particular leg, but sometimes shows difficulty in placing the hoof fully flat - it's not nice to watch. She is on joint supplements, and the vet gave me some danilon to try to see if it was pain related, but it didn't seem to make much difference.
This morning the limb was actually shivering for a few seconds before she put the heel down.
Has anyone experienced this type of thing, and what treatment route did you take? I suspect long reining up and down hills will be useful, and I imagine very short, rolled hind toes, but I wondered if Physio had made a difference to your horse? She has always been quite weak behind and I suspect this is a long term issue. She has slight cow hocks, and her hind legs are more underneath her, so I guess conformation is playing a big part here too.
My mare is 23, once baby is here (any day now!) i'll be getting the physio out again as more helpful than the vet, no disrespect! I don't really want to go down any invasive joint medication route if we can help it but would be interested to hear your rehab stories.