Locked stifles?

[cswoodlandfairy]

Okay so I am getting ready to look at a 5 y/o horse that has an issues with locked stifles. She has never been ridden before, but was a rescue case and taken in to save her and fatten her up. The owner of the mare said that she hasn't done it in well over a year. Is this an issue? I am not overly familiar with locked stifles and not sure what to think about it. The owner said that she stretched out the leg and the stifle popped back into place and she was fine.

Insight?

[JB]

If she hasn't done it in over a year, I wouldn't necessarily worry. Is the horse straight in the stifle? That can predispose her to doing it but even if it doesn't, it can cause other issues down the road (as can any joint that is too straight for its own good).

Given that it hasn't happened in that long, I'd wager that it was largely due to being so out of shape and undernourished, as well as still growing (which can cause a temporary butt-high straighter stifle conformation for a while). One known treatment for thin horses with locking stifles is to put proper weight on them.

Getting and keeping a horse in shape is the best treatment. But, since it hasn't happened in that long, it may never be a problem again.

[cswoodlandfairy]

If she hasn't done it in over a year, I wouldn't necessarily worry. Is the horse straight in the stifle? That can predispose her to doing it but even if it doesn't, it can cause other issues down the road (as can any joint that is too straight for its own good).

Given that it hasn't happened in that long, I'd wager that it was largely due to being so out of shape and undernourished, as well as still growing (which can cause a temporary butt-high straighter stifle conformation for a while). One known treatment for thin horses with locking stifles is to put proper weight on them.

Getting and keeping a horse in shape is the best treatment. But, since it hasn't happened in that long, it may never be a problem again.

Yeah I am not sure what she looks like. The woman contacted me with the mare, she is actually a free giveaway, she doesn't have the time for her, and said that she has never been broke and has had her for the past 2 years.

This is what she told me:
"on Wednesday, "X" (safety of horse and owner) stifle locked up again.It hadn't done it in over a year so I thought she had outgrown it but I guess she hasn't.
All I had to do was stretch her leg out and it popped and she was fine
but I wanted to make you aware of the issue . "

[JB]

Oh, so it recently happened, after a year? It may be nothing more than another little growth spurt. Not a big concern for me, but I'd want to see the condition of the horse, conformation, etc.

[cswoodlandfairy]

Oh, so it recently happened, after a year? It may be nothing more than another little growth spurt. Not a big concern for me, but I'd want to see the condition of the horse, conformation, etc.

Okay great! I think it is definitely worth a look. The owner said that she has had the vet look at her when it first happened and said that she would grow out of it as well as it being an out of shape issue. Thanks so much for your help!

[vxf111]

<<she would grow out of it as well as it being an out of shape issue>>

I was told the same thing during a PPE about a 4 year old OTTB. X-ray of the stifle was clean. 5 years later and probably $10,000 in vet bills (not purely for the stifle but it was a large part)-- he did NOT grow out of it. Yes, it's better when it's in shape. But it's never "not there." He has issues with the farrier, issues anytime he goes for 3 days in a row unworked, etc. I always have to be mindful of that stifle. I will never take a chance on a stifle again. Stifle issues are a BEAST. I'll take hocks or all over athritis or a hose of other things-- but locky stifles? No thank you.

[flea]

My mare mule had the problem when she was young. At that time the procedure was to cut them. We did this and stricly followed the followup care and she has been fine ever since. She was riddnen, worked cattle, evented, everything and is fine. She is now 28. I do believe however, that there is a newer more popular procedure now. There is a thread on COTH somewhere concerning this.

[Seven-up]

If it were me, I wouldn't. I worked in a barn with a pony who had locking stifles, and had the surgery. Even after the surgery, he was just barely servicably sound; had a weird shuffling gait and was only used for w/t lessons, no jumping, and only tiny kids. Can't tell you how many times I walked into his stall and found him lying down and unable to get up. Or sitting like a dog and stuck there. His back legs would be splayed out straight and he couldn't bend them to get up.

At the very least, have a REALLY thorough PPE done, with lots of attention paid to the stifle area. But I wouldn't even want to spend the cash on a PPE on a horse who just had the issue flare up in the past week. I wouldn't want to take a chance on a horse that may or may not grow out of something. But all my horses are resale projects, not keepers, so I try to keep the issues down to a minimum. I guess it depends on what your plans would be for the horse.

DISCLAIMER: I have limited up-close experience with horses with stifle problems. But over the years, we've had horses come through the barn w/stifle issues. They never stayed long, as it was usually determined they were not suitable for jumping (because of faulty stifles.) Just thought I'd mention I'm not a pro at the whole stifle thing.

[cyndi]

I've had two horses with stifle issues. Years and years ago (before I knew much of anything!) I had a horse with a slightly sticky stifle. His main symptom was that he would cross canter when it happened. I tried EVERYTHING in the 8 years I owned him (he died from an unrelated problem) including the surgery and nothing helped. It only showed up in the canter - I could never 'feel' the stifle 'sticking' but the end result was i could almost guarantee in a rail class, when the judge was looking, he would cross canter on the right lead more than 70% of the time. He was in dressage training - that didn't help either.

I currently own a horse I bred that actually completely locked up several times when she was a long yearling. Freaked me out since I'd never actually seen one completely lock up. That happened 2 or 3 times over the course of a year. Always in the morning when she'd been in her stall overnight. I started turning her out 24/7 so she'd get more exercise. My chiro also suggested ground exericses to deal with it at the time since she was not under saddle - walking over poles, backing and lateral work in hand. She is now almost 4, has been under saddle in regular light work for about 6 months, comes in at night again, and the stifle issue has gotten much, much better. Almost nonexistant. The only time I can even see it or feel it is occasionally from trot to walk if I just let her 'fall' into it and don't really 'ride' the downward transition. I fully expect in a year or so it won't be an issue at all.

So, long story short - the horse with the 'less severe' stifle issue actually was more of a problem long-term.

[dwblover]

I have read (recently in Equus magazine) that the new surgery for locking stifle is incredibly successful. Something about the location of the incision, and how the older surgery could lead to problems down the road. The newer surgery does not. If you google new surgery for upward fixation of the patella you might find it.

[Fairview Horse Center]

I have a horse that began locking his stifle when standing as a 3 year old. He does it sometimes 2 or 3 times while being groomed and tacked, and sometimes not for a few months. He is now a 13 year old, and has been winning at shows for years, teaching kids lessons, even hunted some. He comes home with a Championship almost every time he shows.

I had a young lady in the barn that was there when he was born, and LOVED him, but couldn't afford to buy him. After his stifle failed him in a PPE for another lady, she ended up buying him on the installment plan, so it worked out great for her and me as I still got to keep him as my babysitter for years. His stifle still does lock occasionally, but it has never been while riding.

Stifles are something that will most often fix with conditioning and work. Lots of walking up and down hills or work in deep footing. Our horse has not been really fitted up. He is ridden 2 to 3 times a week.

[JB]

Goodness people, we're talking about a horse who, as an underweight, growing 4yo, locked up, then nothing for a year, then another lockup at 5. It's not a horse who has constantly locked up, not an adult (done growing) horse.

Yes, it COULD be something that will rear a very ugly head tomorrow. Not very likely though, considering the facts here.

My WB gelding would lock up regularly as a growing 3yo. Flat out lock up. Going from 12 hours turnout, to 24x7 free choice turnout (out during the day, choice of stall or out at night), fixed that just about immediately. He locked up when he grew (straightened his stifle). He locked up when he went out of work, or came back into work - but being out of, or being in work was fine.

He's 11 now. Very occasionally catches now. He hasn't truly locked in quite a while. Not even when he was on stall rest for a ruptured tendon.

[Fairview Horse Center]

My old QH gelding locked up at least 3 or 4 times every ride from the time I broke him as a 3 year old, until he was about 6. Then once a ride, then once a month. After about 8, he never locked again, and was packing my husband around 3' courses as a 25 year old with NO drugs, supplements, or injections of any kind. I lost him at 31 but he was still giving little kids occasional rides.