UFP or Locking Stifle stories.....

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Honeypots

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...anyone?

Have suspected one of my ponies of having this for some time and since having done very little work and coming off my very hilly field onto a gently sloping one it seems to have presented itself. Not terribly but enough for me to notice starting with her refusing to pick her back leg up after trotting in to see me this morning with a very jerking action behind. Then her leg seemed to get jammed in a straight position and then unlock itself!! Does this sound like UFP to you? She is 8 and this has never happened before but she has always been a bit suspect behind ie a bit snatchy when picking up her feet...I assume that because she's always been in work that its kept it at bay(she's had almost 6 months off)..
Would be interested to hear what you think and of any other stories..or whether anyone thinks it may be something else. She doesn't appear to be in any obvious pain BTW and is happy bounding around the field as always..
Thanks
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This sounds very similar to what I'm currently working through. My vet recommended getting him back into work & a fortnight in this does seem to be fixing the problem.
 
Don't know what UFP is but Trike certainly has a sticky stifle and slight shiver in his o/s hind. He seems to get worse after time off. I was advised to do loads of hill work to help strengthen the stifle, but he will never be fully right.
 
Yep, definitely sounds like UFP. Our 12hh pony has it, also has Cushings. It has become worse over the last 12 months or so. I think the lack of muscle tone caused by the cushings is adding to the problem, and because of the laminitis risk she is in a small paddock so doesn't take a lot of exercise. I try and lead her in hand and lunge her . I believe hill work is supposed to be good but not much good when you're on the Shropshire plain! It doesn't seem to bother her altho looks horrible when it locks out behind. My vet hasn't suggested any other treatment, just building the muscle up.
 
often this is caused by poor biomechanics and muscular imbalance, hill work tends to place more strain on the area around the stifles and this culd be why its been exaccerbated, i'd start working her with a more flat surface for a few weeks then start increasing the hill work, in the mean time it's worth either stretching her hind legs yourself or geting someone in to do it, the problem is if the muscles on the outside of the leg get too tight they pull the knee cap to that side hence it doesn't run smoothly against the end of the femur(thigh bone).
 
my boy had a similar problem, locked up every 3 or 4 steps then clicked back ,looked awful but didnt seem to worry him as much as me. anyway vet came & said work him through it walking up & down hills- not a good option as hes 5 ,unbroken & a nutter ( long story). the few times that we got him out on the lanes it didnt lock , adrenaline? sorry im waffling not relevant to your prob. vet also said that there is a small op that they can have to release the locking tendon (costs about £100 ) & that if the problem persists it ought to be done quickly as they expect the leg to lock & therefore move awkwardly & even when there isnt any pain after op they still move in that jerky way. sorry to ramble , by the way mine just got better after about 3 weeks even without much work.
 
Thank you all for your stories and input..
thanks for the link Jinglejoys...will have a good read of that...
MurphysMinder..I have the same problem as Holly is in a starvation paddock so is getting less exercise than she was plus daughter hasn't been riding her for a while..will have to sort that out now...
 
mine had this when he was a youngster (now 13!) vet recommended uphill work and to basically ride him through it- got better with age and work, doesnt affect him at all, he is now happily jumping without any issue-so dont panick too much! :-)
 
Hopefully if you can get your daughter riding her it will help. Our problem is that pony is hopelessly outgrown, my daughter now at university! With her various problems with laminitis, cushings etc. I felt selling her wasn't an option. So she is still here with us, every so often I drag a local child in to ride her but its not enough, not helped by the fact that she is not really a childs first pony (typical chestnut mare!). Build up Hollys exercise and she will improve I am sure. Good luck.
 
thanks again all...told daughter all about it and she was horrified and has vowed to ride her everyday now. Mmmm..we'll see
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Either way, I will build up her work regime and hopefully we'll be full steam ahead again in no time...do hate to see her not looking right.she's too much of a sweetie
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