Replies

I have a question about your comments yesterday about Rusty and stifle problems. I asked a friend at the ranch my son ropes at yesterday about it and he said it sounded like stifle too. He said he had a stifle problem once. He tuned the horse out for 6 months then never had a problem again.

From what I AM Understanding you to say, Rusty's problem might just be that he is not in the best shape and I could still ride just easier. Bring him back up slower???, and that might fix it???

Becky

IIRC, to check for a stifle problem, you need to hold the leg up pretty high, hold for a few mins.
Have someone at the head, ready to trot off after you release the leg. You should be able to tell from the gait, if it's a stifle problem.
Hopfully, he's just out of shape.

I have read a little on the stifle issue with Rusty... I'll be curious too, about it, because Cyn does this. Our farrier first pinpointed the problem and could repeat it to show it to us by standing her and then backing her up while turning. It's starting out or pivoting on it that causes hers to lock up, and then it seems like she can lift her leg from the hip, but the stifle joint, and for that matter, her hock, seemed frozen. With her, it doesn't seem to cause any pain, she just has to jig and shake it loose and usually does within a step or two. With her, we'll just be aware of situations that bring it on, like trying to turn around in a tight spot, and allow her the latitude to turn like she wants to, and to shake it off when it happens.

Our vet said it doesn't hurt when it's locked, but that some horses get panicked about it and may kick out or crow hop to free it. That was a concern, but we haven't seen any sign that it bothers her. I think he also said there is a surgery that can snip or fix the ligaments that are too tight, but the best cure is better muscling in her hindquarter so the muscle to properly move her leg is stronger than the ligament. She hasn't been worked a lot yet, but we see it less in the pasture since she's gained weight.

It might, since he didn't have a stifle problem before now. Seems like I remember Hair saying that her vet said something similar to that when she had him out to look at Cyn's stifle problem. The tendon might have shortened while he's been "layed up". You might try working him on hills to build up his leg muscles. It can't hurt anything and if he continues to have this problem or it gets worse, you can always have the tendon clipped, but you can't undo it once it's done. My mare's problem was caused by her stifle conformation I think. She was always uncomfortable going down hill and gave the farrier problems with her back legs from an early age. I had hers clipped and she's been fine ever since, but Rusty might not need it. I'd mention it to the vet the next time you talk to him and see what he thinks.