Strengthening locking stifles (UFP)

[bounce]

My recently backed 4 year old is showing signs of locking stifle, mainly after stabling, one full lock up and occasional mis steps when turning in a tight space.
I understand that as a youngster he has a good chance of strengthening up and growing out of it and that hill work is recommended for this.
As he is only just backed he is not very fit and not going too far but just wondered how much work others have done with youngsters with this or when it’s time to back off the work. He’s currently doing 30-40 min hacks in walk with hills 3 times a week and a short walk in hand on a couple of other days.
He needs to lose some weight as he is rather ‘round’ at the moment so I’m sure that’s not helping the situation.
I just don’t want to do too much and make him sore. He didn’t show any signs of it until we started hacking out under saddle but had been lead out in hand for up to an hour around the same hills for a couple of weeks prior to backing.
Any thoughts or experiences?

 

[tristar]

late onset 3 to 4 years in my experience has resolved itself suddenly, come on suddenly,appeared very alarming, ie locking in extension when turned out for 30 minutes, then dissapeared never to return i had the horse for life.

early onset 1 to 3 years, although less alarming, catchy locking when moving off in walk, when turning in hand etc, seems be less likely to resolve itself ,is what i have found.

its awkward at 4 years as you want to work them ,but not too much and yet work is often what will resolve the situation. hard work, a dilemma.

ifi asked vets what to do, nine would say let it resolve itself, work the horse hard and back off from mpd op, and one would say mpd op both sides and there everything will be fine, not always that easy. or , some have been x rayed to check if stifle joint is normal, ie nothing else going on

its not a very well understood condition when trying determine what is causing the fixation, some obvious causes, some a mystery.

i would try to do something with the horse to keep it moving most days, and lose some weight, don`t worry too much, it happens a lot,

 

[tda]

I would try and get him living out, preferably on a hilly area.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I remember someone who had stifle problems with her youngster being told to do trotting pole work. Not sure if that was under saddle or on the lunge.

 

[bounce]

I would try and get him living out, preferably on a hilly area.

He has lived out for the last 4 years and has been in at night for the last 8 weeks. It only started at week 6 when started to be ridden. He now has an area fenced off outside his stable for night time as I don’t want him getting any fatter than he already is. His field is on a bit of a slope. Sending him away is not an option unfortunately.

 

[tristar]

I remember someone who had stifle problems with her youngster being told to do trotting pole work. Not sure if that was under saddle or on the lunge.

i do this with one that locks a bit twice week, now he`s used to it i put the poles up quite high and trot him loose over them, three lots of poles