Tommy Tucker
New User
If anyone has had personal experience of a horse with this condition, particularly if it has happened whilst the horse was being ridden I would very much like some advice/info please. Thanks in advance 
Upward fixation of patella
- Thread starter Tommy Tucker
- Start date
tristar
Well-Known Member
has the vet seen the horse? and what did they say? how often has it happened and did it unlock quickly or was the horse stuck for some time, and was bilateral or just one side, and how old is the horse?
PonyIAmNotFood
Well-Known Member
I know a horse with this, he has it more when he is stood in. Had it from a young age and never grew out of it. He doesn't seem bothered by it and walks out of it after a few mins. Doesn't affect his ridden life, he is worked normally.
TopTotty
Well-Known Member
I have a horse with this who is nearly 7. She has improved a lot with work but she finds it hard to get the correct canter lead on her worst side. It is always worse when she just comes out of the stable.
Rivendell
Well-Known Member
Can we have some details about your situation with this? Might help guide the answers.
Basically it is caused by one of the stifle ligaments that attaches to the patella being too loose, so it is prone to catching and not easily releasing like it is designed to do.
Upward fixation of the patella is usually caused by lack of muscle mass. Strengthening up the muscles with regular work and doing things like hill work usually helps. There is not often a huge consequence with intermittent locking patella that easily corrects itself. Horses can successfully be ridden and competed with this; generally they are in enough work and the muscles are warm enough for the patella to not be able to lock at crucial moments. Note that even with increasing exercise, the horses still seem to be prone to it and it can still occur albeit rarely.
If it is causing an issue (eg, not releasing quickly or affecting performace even after building up muscles), the ligament can be treated to induce scar tissue and thus make it tighter - this involves either injecting a noxious substance into the ligament or creating small incisions. At the extreme the ligament can be cut, and when it heals it will be shorter and tighter.
Horses with locking patellas can revert back if spelled and/or boxed for too long, so it is important to keep them doing some work or in a large turnout area.
It is worth investigating for an underlying cause if it came on suddenly - there must be a reason the muscles aren't working as they should be. Things like a subtle lameness can cause a disregularity in muscle use on each side and can lead to locking patellas.
I hope some of this has helped. Feel free to ask questions or provide more information to help us give a more helpful answer!
Basically it is caused by one of the stifle ligaments that attaches to the patella being too loose, so it is prone to catching and not easily releasing like it is designed to do.
Upward fixation of the patella is usually caused by lack of muscle mass. Strengthening up the muscles with regular work and doing things like hill work usually helps. There is not often a huge consequence with intermittent locking patella that easily corrects itself. Horses can successfully be ridden and competed with this; generally they are in enough work and the muscles are warm enough for the patella to not be able to lock at crucial moments. Note that even with increasing exercise, the horses still seem to be prone to it and it can still occur albeit rarely.
If it is causing an issue (eg, not releasing quickly or affecting performace even after building up muscles), the ligament can be treated to induce scar tissue and thus make it tighter - this involves either injecting a noxious substance into the ligament or creating small incisions. At the extreme the ligament can be cut, and when it heals it will be shorter and tighter.
Horses with locking patellas can revert back if spelled and/or boxed for too long, so it is important to keep them doing some work or in a large turnout area.
It is worth investigating for an underlying cause if it came on suddenly - there must be a reason the muscles aren't working as they should be. Things like a subtle lameness can cause a disregularity in muscle use on each side and can lead to locking patellas.
I hope some of this has helped. Feel free to ask questions or provide more information to help us give a more helpful answer!
Nene
New User
Hi TopTotty,
How is your mare doing? I have the same problem, especially with the canter. Can you advise if you have managed to overcome this issue. My mare turned 5 end of May, but started with this problem when rising 3. Work has helped, but what routine do you keep your horse in? I keep getting mixed messages, so your feedback would be really appreciated.
How is your mare doing? I have the same problem, especially with the canter. Can you advise if you have managed to overcome this issue. My mare turned 5 end of May, but started with this problem when rising 3. Work has helped, but what routine do you keep your horse in? I keep getting mixed messages, so your feedback would be really appreciated.
NZJenny
Well-Known Member
I have two (by the same stallion), who have partially locking patella's. They drag the toe of the affected leg slightly more than the other, and have become progressively more unsound with age. Both have been endurance horses, but both are now retired. One at 16, the other at 9.
Tnavas
Well-Known Member
Generally improves with work. The ones I've worked with always went back when turned away but after initial problems when coming back into work improved out of site as work and fitness increased.
They can be operated on but it's not always successful
They can be operated on but it's not always successful