UFP or Locking Stifle stories.....

[Honeypots]

Apologies if you've alredy read this in New Lounge but I put it in the wrong room...

...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

 

[MurphysMinder]

Have replied in NL.

 

[Honeypots]

thanks

 

[GreedyGuts]

Sounds like UFP. Bringing her back into work should make all the difference, as loss of muscle on the inside of the leg is largely reponsible. Avoid surgery to severe the ligament as this can have long term consequences on joint stability.

 

[Honeypots]

thankyou...yep,sounds like she needs to get back to work

 

[mystiandsunny]

My horse has locking stifles. I did consider the operation as they do really bother her in the winter, but the vets aren't keen as she can still lead a normal life. Hers are usually best if she is kept in regular work. Things that help specifically are turns and circles, and lateral work. They seem to help build muscle in the right places to help her.

Hers are better when she's in season, and worse just before she goes into season, and in the winter. If she's not worked they are really noticeable - in work in the summer the only reason I know she's still got them is that it causes a slight soreness over her loins (whether in work or not) and one leg is worse than the other so there's less muscle on that side.

Someone told me I shouldn't jump her two years after we'd started so we've carried on regardless. She's not confident jumping but they've never locked over a jump yet.

 

[reddie]

we had a cob with locking stifles, he never had a problem as long as he was kept in consistent work. Had to make sure that he was at least ridden/lunged several times a week and had as much turnout as poss. But we were able to do evrything we wanted on him, never had any lameness.

 

[Honeypots]

thanks for your stories