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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
  
Location: Vanzant, Missouri |  Howdy
I have a 3 1/2 yr SSH filly. Her stifle started popping out. I had her injected. Gave her time off and she seemed to be doing ok, so the the day after her first ride it popped again. Her ride was only about 1/2 hr and on even ground. Has anyone had to deal with this and if so what type of treatment did your vet do and did it work? Or is this an acute thing. I would hate the thought of having to get rid of her. Thanks for any suggestions..... |
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Regular
Posts: 67
Location: Romulus, Michigan |  We've had and several of my friends have had SSH/TWHs with stifle problems. It is common in those breeds. There is a relatively simple procedure that a vet can do to "snip" one of the 3 ligaments in the stifle. All I can tell you is that it works! You should be able to find info on-line about the problem and the procedure. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | I know how you are feeling..... Geesh "Stifle" problems. I hate that word. My TWH tore his. Vet said the longer I could let him rest the better. Gave him one year off. He was 4 y/o at the time. Of course your problem is different. I would definetly check into that surgery. I heard it works. My equine vet is against it though. Said it was a really "brutal" type of cut. I guess I was lucky that it was a tear instead of a popping issue. Good luck. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Danielsville Georgia | Told once cut they can't lock that leg for sleeping.If both are cut hey have to lay down to sleep.They won't be able to lock and sleep standing.Other then that I've been told it fixes the other issue.My vet said its a easy minor surgery. |
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Member
Posts: 25
Location: CO | I've never had stifle problems, but in my opinion, when you go and start cutting ligaments that's not good. They are there for a reason. But if that is what it takes to "fix" your horse and you're ok with it, I wish you the best of luck! Cowby |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
Location: Vanzant, Missouri | Thanks everyone for your input. She goes to the vet today. I would rather not have any tendons cut. May try the injection again. Will discuss the long term with the vet. Then I can decide from there.....I'll keep ya posted.....Have a GREAT THANKSGIVING!!!!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Danielsville Georgia | Is your vet experienced in this issue? Do you have a vet school near you? Vet I use says he has come across this issue in a few jumpers but referes them to UGA vet school.(whom I HATE to deal with) Their are priced outa sight. |
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Location: KY | houndog, I share your thing about vet school clinics! There is an equine vet clinic in Pell City, Alabama that is fantastic, N2ridin is very familar with it. Dr. Murray and his staff did surgery on a filly of ours and now she is doing great. Her problem was in her throat and made it where she couldn't breathe....anyway that's another story. I believe we obtained a better result and did not spend any more money that the vet school would have charged (and may well have spent less!). I highly recommend that clinic. Mingiz, you may wish to look around your area for other options. Also, remember, when in doubt, turn 'em out. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
Location: Vanzant, Missouri | Well I took her to the vet yesterday. She injected her again and will again in a month. She said that this filly has very weak stifles. And it may take more injections to toughen it up. This filly from day one never really romped like most babies. She has always acted like a 25yro. I asked about the cutting of the tendon but she refused to do it.That the only way that she would do it is if the leg is locking out and won't go back in. I agree I don't like the idea of cuttitng muscle,tendons etc. She said that some times they don't fully develope until 4. So it's basically it's a waiting game and alot of walking for her to try and get her back end strengthen up. The vet told me if I could give her another year off from being under saddle that she should get better. If she doesn't then we'll go from there. So I will go with that. I trust this vet very much. She has alot of leg experience from working years at the standardbred track.I have seen her in action as far as the race horses go. Also gaited horse are more prone to this she said. So we'll see what happens. If not I have a very pretty black/white lawn ornament that gives hugs and kisses....LOL EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING..... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | Your vet sounds like mine, like I stated in my previous post. I gave my walker a year off. Do that and you'll see a big difference. Then it's training on the flat , no circuling, just walking for several months. Get's those stifles strong and in shape. Worked for me.  |
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Expert
Posts: 1719
Location: PA | Trot the horse uphills and walk down them. This will strengthen the stifle. Avoid tight circle work, longe in a 60' circle only. My vet is a race track vet and will NOT cut the ligaments. He said it doesn't always help anyhow and exercise is the key! Lots of turnout too! |
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Regular
Posts: 63
Location: Illinois | I think by your posts that you are experiencing a locking or catching knee cap. Horses lock their kneecaps in a groove so they can sleep standing up without using their muscles. When they want to move, they use their muscles to lift the kneecap out of the grove. If the muscles are weak, they have trouble lifting the kneecap. It might catch or lock. It looks bad but there is no pain to the horse. If he can't unlock it, back him up and it should release. If this is your problem, the answer is work, not rest!! Work your horse up and down hills and not at a walk. A slow walk does not build muscle. Ride him while collected and make him work. As his muscles build, he should get over this problem. (If this is the problem) This is more common in gaited horses because of their build. The injections are OK, but not preferred. The surgery should only be a last resort as it causes problems in the future. If you must do surgery, some are now stipping the tendon rather than cutting it. Work your horse and build those muscles. And I'm not talking once or twice a week. I mean work him 4 or 5 times a week hard. Let me know what you decide and how everything works out.
Edited by Tim 2006-11-30 7:07 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | Listen to your vet. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Danielsville Georgia | My vet told me what TIM posted. He refused to inject.Also said a candence BACK and back up slight inclines to build up muscle.The horse I have is a mature gelding and not a youngster. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
Location: Vanzant, Missouri | Yes it is locking out and I do back her to get it in. But there is no way in hell that this filly can work when it does pop out she is dead lame. Can't believe that it wouldn't hurt. I know when my knee popped out I sure felt it. She is better now so I can atleast start to pony her. I will follow my vets advice for now. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | Mingiz: Your doing the right thing. Yes they DO need rest.............not running them up and down hills. This is a young horse. Like you said, you are able to give her a year off and IMO that's the best thing for her at this time. I happen to listen to my equine vet. I did what he said and I have a strong TWH now. Have a great weekend. |
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Expert
Posts: 1719
Location: PA | I have to disagree with the rest for stifles. I deal with top vets from all over the country. Stifles lock because the ligaments are loose and slip over the patella. Resting them will not help. Only contolled exercise will strengthen those stifles. Trotting up hills and walking down so they don't slip is the best way to strenghten stifles. Fast turns, deep footing, and tight circles will hurt stifles and that type of work should be avoided. Now, if the horse has hock issues, trotting up hills is a no no. |
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Regular
Posts: 63
Location: Illinois | I believe you've got it hav2ride. If the problem is a locking or catching patella the quadracep (sp?) must be strengthened so it can lift the kneecap out of the grove. Rest and growing older may do it but not nearly as fast as strengthening through conditioning. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378
Location: Nebraska | Coditioning a horse is good prevention or for rehab. But if the ligament is torn exercise will only aggravate the sprain. Rest is the only treatment unless you are sure there is no damage to the ligament. And ligaments don't heal very fast. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | hconley is correct. The reasons for the the back and forth opinions here is we do not know wether this horse has a "tear". Ultrasound is needed. My TWH had a "tear" visable on the ultrasound. SOOOOO, rest for as long as possible, months not weeks, (one year in my case) NO up and down hills. Over time, several Ultrasounds to see if the tear is on the mend. When the tear is healed then walking on the "flat" for a month or so, and THEN the up and down hill thing to re-strengthen the stifle..... |
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Expert
Posts: 1719
Location: PA | Wasn't your horse off all the time when he tore his tendon? I believed from the OP that it was not a consistent lameness but that the horse locked occasionally. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | I didn't even know he had a problem until the farrier lifted his rear leg and he lost balance. Now mind you it was in the dead of winter, and I hadn't rode him in a month. He never showed any signs of lameness. He did take a fall running in the pasture about a month before the farrier came out. For sure that's when he tore it. But like I said, he didn't show any signs of lameness. I called the vet out and he put him through the routine. First he thought it might have been EPM...(geesh) then decided to do the ultrasound. Low and behold it was a tear. Not considered a small one either. So my case is, i guess, different from the o.p. |
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Expert
Posts: 1719
Location: PA | Geez, can't our horses find trouble to get in to!! Falling in the pasture is a rarity. I'm hoping the OP's vet did a thorough exam to rule out any tear! |
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: salem Illinois 62881 | hello I've got a mare a TWH/SSH mare she is seven years old with a serious strifle problem. She got her's by being tied out. The owner did nothing to correct the problem. Result.... a knotted strifle. Everyone says snip and cut, but like anything not enough or too much can do more harm than good. Remember You do have a mare that can reproduce. This mare that I have I had in training with a pulled strifle. I worked it out of her, she went home and messed it up again. Now she is mine for the owner did not want her. Here is what I'm doing now to help her get back on her feet. Depending of the severity of the injury it can take up to a year to correct the problem and yes it can be corrected to where you can do trail riding. First of all My farrier has left a heel on this mare with her toe facing down. This is totally opposite of angle placement on a walking horse. I will do easy excercises with no quick or sharp turns and I will collect her enough to where she will work off her haunches. Before and after every riding I will streach that leg forward or toward the front leg to work that strifle. As she gets better we will reverse her foot setting back to norrmal. Remember Slow extended flat walk with her body rounded will do more good for her in getting that strifle worked out. It will take me a year with this mare to get her moving out because they did nothing to correct the problem when she injured herself. It does work. Please go slow and take your time. Rome was not built in a day. |
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New User
Posts: 2
Location: Ramona, Ca. | how is your horse doing, I have a Am. Cream Draft stallion, he was very very big at birth and I had to help with his birth.
His mom suffered from cronic collic and had to be put down due to a twist when he was 2 months old.
I started hearing popping noises when he was 4 months old, from his stiffles, my vet told me to keep him confined but to take him out daily and walk him up and down my very very steep hill about 5 to 10 times a day.
his muscles developed "so did mine" and after a month or two of this his stiffles would pop only once in a while.
I started letting him live like a horse in pasture, he ran and played.
He is 2 yrs coming 3 now, and only his right stiffle pops maybe every 3 or 4th step at a walk, more so at a trott.
We have gon back to confining him, not only because of his stiffle but because he is growing way to fast, we take him out only to walk him, all controled and up and down hills, we have also put shoes on his front only to lengthen his toes this has helped him out allot.
I signed on only to see if anyone eals has had this problem and to see what they had done to help thier horse.
I have not broke him to ride because I do think they need the time off with controled walking and corective shoeing.
I hope your horse is doing better and please email me to let me know what you have desided to do for her.
Sue |
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Expert
Posts: 1989
Location: South Central OK | Please don't breed your stallion if he has known joint issues, the world is full of broken down horses. |
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New User
Posts: 2
Location: Ramona, Ca. | Vet said it was due to complications at birth.
Did history check with Am Cream Registry, and with there being only 400 some odd horses registered, They are in the Endangered Breed Listing, the presidant looked into, and also new the stallion (his sire ) entire breeding history, and calling the people that owned his full and half siblings, we have confirmed that it is not a heredity thing. |
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Stifle Problems
