Weird one! Stifle injury.

[pistolpete]

My highland was diagnosed with fractured stifle in Dec 2020 vet said not to ride again as unstable. He’s been turned out in a herd and seems really well. Too well! He’s fat fat fat! Would it be worth re-xraying to see if he could tolerate work or is it unlikely to look any different? When X-rays were done vet thought the injury was old. He’s only ever been one or two tenths lame. I’d only walk him but could prolong his life if I can curb the eating a bit! I know it’s all very hypothetical. Hoping for stories of similar cases. Thanks.

 

[Sossigpoker]

After this time it may be worth re x-raying and seeing if anything has changed. It may be that you can then start walking out in-hand ,.if vet says the he won't manage ridden work.

 

[pistolpete]

Thank you.will try and post a video of his antics today.

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

youtube.com

 

[Gloi]

I'd say a pony that can run round like that could walk out with you round the lanes . See what the vet thinks.

 

[Starzaan]

I have rehabbed quite a few from fractured stifles, only one that ended up paddock sound and not rideable. I’d definitely re X-ray.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

The little mare I had on loan had had several stifle operations, no idea what for. She had been used for dressage prior to that but then retired to become a companion. Came sound and got ridden gently again and came to me to ride (didn't happen, my nerves got in the way). My sister rode her a little bit and she was never lame again. Died at 23 from probably heart attack. I say go for it. If he can hump his own weight round the field at that speed and still be sound he can carry you at walk and who knows where you might go from there.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I'd say a pony that can run round like that could walk out with you round the lanes . See what the vet thinks.

Horses on adrenaline can run with a broken leg. Running around free in pasture shouldn't be used as a measure of lameness.

 

[Dexter]

This is the one that was sharp and reactive to ride isn't it? If so I wouldn't bother. Why bring something back into work that you don't enjoy riding?

 

[pistolpete]

This is the one that was sharp and reactive to ride isn't it? If so I wouldn't bother. Why bring something back into work that you don't enjoy riding?

Yep that’s the fella! You’re probably right.

 

[pistolpete]

Well I might see if I’m allowed to ride him in the field. Several laps at walk will burn some calories surely.

 

[Dexter]

Well I might see if I’m allowed to ride him in the field. Several laps at walk will burn some calories surely.

I've found it makes no difference. They need to be in HARD work to get the weight off. And its the faster work that shifts it. Theres a poster on here with highlands that were always slim and she rode them twice a day in summer, and did a lot of high-intensity work. It always stuck with me as I'm just not dedicated enough to do that, so restricted grazing as well to keep my good doers slim.

 

[pistolpete]

Thank you for that have been a agonising about whether just penning him for four hours would be more beneficial!

 

[planete]

I would still get on and ride him if you are allowed. Walking exercise will slowly build back his muscles and keep yours tuned up so you should both get some benefit from it. It will also help keep a strong bond between you.

 

[sbloom]

Personally I'd look at in hand exercises that would benefit him posturally first, just walking in hand or riding will help a little but nowhere near as much as focused work and bearing weight before posturally ready can do more harm than good, even if only long term. As always I recommend looking first at Balance Through Movement Method, search for podcast interviews with Celeste Lazaris to get a feel.

 

[Gloi]

Thank you for that have been a agonising about whether just penning him for four hours would be more beneficial!

Penning for four hours just makes them eat faster for the other twenty

 

[planete]

Worth finding out exactly what he should and should not do if exercise is a possibility. It may well be that straight lines and very large curves only will be recommended or level and flat surfaces only to start with until he has built up enough muscle to stabilise the joint a bit.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Worth finding out exactly what he should and should not do if exercise is a possibility. It may well be that straight lines and very large curves only will be recommended or level and flat surfaces only to start with until he has built up enough muscle to stabilise the joint a bit.

That's a very good point regarding the need to rebuild muscles around the joint.
Would putting him on swim livery help I wonder? Something low impact on his joints to help strengthen him up.

 

[Red-1]

I think I would wait for a hot, lazy summer's day and try a little ride. No lungeing or school work, just start in-hand hacking and pop aboard.

You may find he is no longer so sharp if his stifle has had a chance to settle down. If he is still too sharp for a pleasurable steady hack, I would leave be.

If it doesn't work, as in he doesn't feel comfortable, you have your answer. He is a pasture ornament for good.

I would probably muzzle at pasture for 12 hours a day and have on stabling or hard standing the remainder of the time for weight management.

I would run this plan past your vet first, but doubt it would take a visit to do so.

 

[Bluewaves]

If he's got chunkier, would your saddle still fit?

 

[pistolpete]

Probably no

If he's got chunkier, would your saddle still fit?

 

[sbloom]

That's a very good point regarding the need to rebuild muscles around the joint.
Would putting him on swim livery help I wonder? Something low impact on his joints to help strengthen him up.

I would not. To swim a horse has to engage the underneck muscles, something that is an issue already for so many horses. Have a look at the rehabs that offer swimming, "after" photos show weight loss, but they often show worse posture.

I would start off under vet guidance, a recommended physio perhaps, but I did mention BTMM in a previous post, you want to be building the right muscles to support the stifle without building the wrong sets. For instance of the underneck is on then the psoas will be overworking too. It's complicated.

Goong the vet/physio route I would first listen to podcast interviews with Celeste Lazaris, and/or look at the work of Tami Elkyam so you can start getting an understanding of how a horse should move and therefore how to rehab. Most rehab is simply strengthening and fittening, much of the work that tries to do more can cause as many other issues as it seeks to fix, if you're not thoroughly observing and understanding exactly how the horse should be moving.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I get your point sbloom, but assuming this pony has put on a little weight since being put out at grass, getting some pounds of it will help lessen the impact on the stifle and help prevent an onset of laminitis. Which the op is possibility a little concerned about coming into Spring.

 

[sbloom]

I'm not a vet, have not seen the horse and have no idea the level of risk of lammi etc, but dysfunctional movement could even be contributing to the weight (everything is so interrelated in horses), it's not impossible, and I'd be reluctant to further compromise a horse posturally that already has a physical weakness.

If the risk isn't super high then why not postural in hand work and longlining (just forwards, no outline etc) or walking in hand, from BOTH sides to help with straightness, for keeping weight off? The OP is only talking about walking as it is and, if the vet is happy, could absolutely JUST do this, I'm presenting a way to possibly improve the stifle more and the horse might even end up being able to do fast work either ridden or lunging etc.

Because it's the programme I recommend the most I'll explain a little more - BTMM, once started, is then the baseline for everything the horse does, so once you have their "pillar one" established you can do all the walk work IN pillar one and continue to help posture. The sooner you get the work started the sooner you can incorporate it into the everyday work for fittening etc.

 

[Boulty]

Speak to your vet & see what they say but would think starting with inhand walking & long lining in straight lines alongside exercises specifically aimed at helping strengthen that stifle would probably be a good starting point to see if it looks like he might stand up to hacking in walk & then go from there.

Going to be honest & say that I don’t think it would help much if at all weight wise though with him being the type he is.

I know that you can’t do it where you are / that it’s not an option really with where you are in the country but the absolute biggest thing that has helped get weight off mine & improved a lot of his other little issues including how he moves & his energy levels is him living on a track and having to continually move.