Big horse--stifle issue--posting for a friend.

[barnbum]

A friend from another forum asked me the following question (below). I had no ideas, so asked if she wanted me to post it here. She did, so here's her note:

I have a question for you. I got a new horse and he appears to have a stifle problem. Its not locking up, I think maybe loose stifle. There is no swelling or heat, he just swings his leg in under him then forward when he moves..

She's going to call the vet, but wanted ideas in the mean time.

Thanks!

 

[drivin*me*buggy]

Any more details or pix? Breed of horse, age.....do they see they at all gaits?

 

[barnbum]

Just that he's a very well trained 11 yr old gelding about 15.1 h.

 

[krissy3]

Unfortunatly at that age I think there is very little you can do in the way of exercise to strengthen the knee muscles to correct it . She might have to consider surgury, or light riding... I would have the vet come look , and give her advise on what she should do.

 

[disneyhorse]

Is there more information to this? Did the horse have the issue prior to her purchasing/getting it, or did this just come up?

Does the horse appear to be conformationally prone to moving like that?

Andrea

 

[barnbum]

Owner said there's never been a problem. I'll ask her for more info....

 

[shorthorsemom]

Ditto on the calling the vet recommendations. It is not too late to exercise to strengthen the stifle, the vet can inject the stifle sometimes too. Lunging is not typically recommended for a stifle issue, sometimes if too severe, surgery. Really depends on each individual horse. My horse was not so lucky that there was an easy solution. Xrays revealed a rare tumor right in the stifle joint. It ruptured and he was put down. Not trying to scare you with that story, just using it to emphasize that there are many things that can cause stifle issues, and sometimes getting a thorough vet examination can be a good idea before doing exercise to strengthen. I tried "hill work" before calling the vet and my horse fell with me that day. He was not hurt, but it would have been smarter to have gotten the xrays before starting a strengthening program. I was very young then, didn't know better. best wishes to your friend.