upward fixation of patella

[farmgirl]

Does anyone know if jumping a gymnastic will aggravate this? Thanks, fg

[JB]

Well, it depends ;)

What state of locking does the horse have? If it's just after coming out of his stall, or after standing in the crossties, but never while moving, no slipping of the stifle, etc, then while I wouldn't do serious gymnastic work, some, done correctly, can help increase that hind end fitness which is what you're after in the first place.

But if things are not the above, with frequent locking and/or catching/slipping, then not only would I not be jumping at all, I wouldn't be cantering or doing concentrated circles for a while - lots and lots of long trotting.

[farmgirl]

Thanks JB. I read, with great interest, something you posted some time ago about the muscles from the hip to the stifle aggravating this condition. I printed the post off, but it is at home and I am at work. Can you tell me more about that, or can you attach a link to the information?

Thanks again, fg

[JB]

It's basically the flank area which contains muscles which affect, in part, the movement of the stifle. Tension in that area can cause the ligament to stay locked over the patellar hook. So, now, I take time to do a brief massage there. My gelding has been out of work, totally, since before Thanksgiving. As a result, he's prone to locking his left stifle after standing fully on the leg while I pick the RH. I can now tell from its look that it's locked, even before asking him to move, and just a few seconds of some vigorous rubbing there allows him to gracefully pick the leg up.

[PRS]

Many horses who have this condition can be improved by regular excersize to build muscles. A very good excersize is trotting up slight inclines. I had a youngish Hackney pony that had been out of work for some time and had some problems in that area. I hitched him to the cart and did laps in the local pecan orchard at a trot, making sure to include a slight incline. I did this for 30 minutes a day 3-4 times a week. He was vastly improved in just a few weeks. I've had a mare with this condition for many years now. Although neither of these horses ever had the patella actually lock up tight they have the tell-tale catch, click/release. The condition is often caused by bringing horses into training too fast too soon. I've heard of surgery being attempted in severe cases but I would try the muscle building routine first.

[spaceagejuliet]

As always, i'm not a vet, etc etc...

I've had a locked stifle or two. I don't know if jumping will or wont aggravate it, but if the horse were mine, I probably would spend all my time doing what I thought would help it most, until its better. (or as good as it'll get)

Lots of trotting, lots of transitions, focus on balance/moving from the hind, avoid sharp circles, and ride hills if ya got em! Build up the work until you get as close to daily as possible.

Then you can re-evaluate and consider the jumping.

[coloredhorse]

Also not a vet, but have had some experience with locking stifles. (One horse with the problem still resides in my back yard.) As already noted, the key is the same as for a human with knee problems: carefully develop the quads and other supporting muscles and then to keep the horse fit.

My mare who has this problem is 100% fine for dressage, trails and jumping if she is fit. When she is sufficiently fit (i.e., working 5-6 days a week for 1-2 hours per session with ease), she doesn't lock. At all. If she loses too much fitness, the problem resurfaces and I have to resume the strength-building regime. I have had the same experience with the other horses I've ridden with this problem.

OP, assuming there is no other pathology and in consultation with a good vet, I would embark on a slow and careful fitness-building program. The key is to be very dedicated. Hill work and cavalletti are wonderful for strengthening the muscles around the stifle. The vets I consulted with my horses encouraged jumping low gymnastics after the base fitness was established to further strengthen the stifle area. If you can get your horse strong enough behind and he is sound other than the locking stifle, you should find that he improves with work and is well able to jump. You may even find that the locking is minimized ... or even eliminated if you are really lucky!

[farmgirl]

Thanks everyone. This horse slipped a year ago this month and was off when I rode him. I could feel it, but no one could see it (numerous vets, chiropractors, acupuncturists). I quit riding him as no one could figure him out. Now that he has lost fitness, one can see the fixation. My very good farrier changed his shoeing and we are starting back on a very slow fitness program - walking now, up hills, over poles, etc. I was just thinking ahead re: gymnastics and wondering what others' experience might be. fg

[JB]

Ahhh, gotcha. Now that you've laid out that information, I would not be adding jumping into the mix now. Get him worked up to a good solid 45-60 minutes of w/t/c work, LOTS of trotting, including your hills and poles (walk and trot), before starting jumping. At that point, assuming he's sound, no doubt correct gymnastic work can help strengthen him.

[farmgirl]

Thanks JB!

[tpup]

Farmgirl, my horse used to "slip" also. His left stifle/hip would drop while riding. It was very unsettling. Vet saw it and said it was slight upward fixation of the patella. He had other issues (needed shoes, arthritic hocks, etc)...but once we fixed the other things, and he started moving better, I worked on his fitness. Long walk hacks, walking short, gradual hills, more consistent trot work and SOME hill trotting (have to be careful due to the hocks...)...since he became more fit, built more muscle, he has not "slipped" since. I cannot remember the last time I felt the little "slip" or hitch. At least 6 months I would say. Even when I can't work him due to footing or time, I will try to handwalk him or lunge him a BIT. I think the walking trail rides were the best for his fitness.

Good luck!

[HD2008]

There is no reason to think that jumping would be a problem as long as he is fit and has strong quadriceps. Horses that "lock" their stifles usually have it happen for 1 of 2 reasons: 1) an injury/strain/sprain to ligaments or quad muscles or 2) very straight hind leg conformation. Typically those who only slightly "catch" are just weak in the quads and need a better fitness program designed to specifically strengthen those muscles.

The patella is normally hooked over the distal femur when the horse "locks" his stifle to stand with the leg straight. It is the quadriceps muscles that must lift the patella off of its hook to move the leg forward. So when someone says a horse is "weak in the stifles" they are usually referring to a weakness in this muscle group.

Be aware - just because you ride your horse on the flat on flat ground at a WTC for 1/2 hour or 45 minutes, does not mean that he/she has strong quads.

Strength training for equine quads includes excersises that will force the horse to pick up his stifle (the equivalent to our knee). These include: walking and trotting up hills (always walk down), walking and trotting over raised cavalitti and general forward gaits to encourage bigger steps and reaching with the hind end.

I would have someone evaluate your horse's strength prior to adding jumping to his routine. Most horses that are weak "lock up" when they are tired.

[JB]

There is no reason to think that jumping would be a problem as long as he is fit and has strong quadriceps.

Yes, but given this:

Now that he has lost fitness, one can see the fixation. My very good farrier changed his shoeing and we are starting back on a very slow fitness program - walking now, up hills, over poles, etc.

jumping at this point would be less than ideal.

I'm on board with you about adding jumping AFTER there's a base of fitness established :)