locking stifles

[gnuton]

Jazz's right hind leg has gone wonky twice in the last few weeks. It sticks up and straight out. He lost his balance at first then managed to sort of hop and walk on three legs.

I don't think he is in any pain because by the time I myself managed to half trot, half stagger over to see what was wrong he met me at the gate and muzzled around for his apple. I backed him up maybe 7 or 8 steps and he was able to walk on it and then within a few minutes he was walking around like nothing had happened.

From May 1 till June 1 he was out in a large pasture with about 15 other horses, including Hunter. That month they were both nutty, racing around, chasing other horses and being chased. Jazz got in to some dominance game with another gelding and there was quite a bit of rearing, striking and kicking. His stifle locked while in the big pasture so they moved him and Hunter into a smaller paddock by themselves for the last week while they were at the stables.

The only reason I can say this is a locking stifle problem is because that's what I was told it was called and I was given the symptoms and told what to do if it happened again.

So can anyone tell me what this is, what causes it, is it serious, will he some day become lame or be in pain. Is it something I should panic over or should I remain calm.

Ever since I first had him 4 an1/2 years ago he has had some tenderness in his back, just a bit to the right side of the pelvic girdle, occasionally his right rear leg felt like it had slipped when I was riding him, there has been the odd little stiffness that clears right up after a little warm up, and he carries his tail off to the left. I've always thought he had reared at some point in his history and gone over back wards damaging himself somehow.

Of course he never had any problems when the vet was there, and the vet couldn't find anything back then but I did have a chiropractor treat him. This was a couple of years ago and it was very effective and all the above symptoms went away. Untill this happened.

So is this locking stifle somehow connected to his pelvic/back and he just needs another series of adjustments, or do you think his recent antisocial behaviour (which was actually instigated by the other gelding) and acting out might have caused some sort of damage.

Thanks, any info would be appreciated.

[lucinda]

Hi Gnuton

Alfie my Friesian has a locking stifle. It kicked off when he was about 2 years old. I have been told that he will grow out of it and to give him lots of hill work.
His symtoms are that he will lock up and his leg is just dead straight and then he will unlock it himself by taking a step forward. You can also unlock it for him by pushing him back for a couple of strides.
The vet assures me he is in no pain what so ever and it certainly dos'nt affect his work. Infact the more work he does the better he is.
There is an op to cut the cartilage that causes the problem but there is a risk of the horse developing arthritis later on.
Much better if the horse is left to sort it out himself.
When they unlock there can be a loud crack with is quite scary the first time you hear it.
Let me know how you get on.

Luc x

[brigadier]

Hi Gnuton,
pretty much what Lucinda says (though I think a ligament in the stifle is involved)- they used to shoot horses that had this as it was thought to be incurable (know of one lovely horse that was shot because of it) but research has shown it will usually right itself when its in a young horse and if caused by injury, then rest and a steady work increase once the inflammation has receded. If a horse is in great pain in its foot it may lock its stifle to try to prevent the pain.
Horses get it because they can sleep standing up- when they do this they relax into a locked position and the locking stifle is a carry on from this. Im not sure about the other injury- carrying a tail to the side is usually the sign of a back problem and there may be some old underlying weakness caused by a trauma. If the chiropracter worked the first time then I would get him/her back to have a prod and a probe!
Good luck
brig

[gnuton]

Thank you so much Lucinda and Brigadier. He wasn't in any pain and recovered so quickly I didn't go into worry mode but I will get the chiropractor out.

I was watching him and Hunter out in the pasture and I can't believe how ridiculously much I love them. Jazz was pawing away at the ground making himself a lovely dust bowl. He rolled, coming up looking like a sand blasted effigy, then carefully lowered himself to dust the other side.

Hunter went down after wards but being the minimalist he is he didn't bother getting up to change sides, he just rolled completely over to the other side.