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Post by mygingeisthebest on Aug 30, 2014 16:12:14 GMT
I have a 2 year old gelding , when he is in over night his left hind stifle locks in the morning. It always eases off by the time we get to the field, it's also not every time he's in. Is this normal for a youngster?
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Post by CarolineNelson on Aug 30, 2014 16:24:26 GMT
I have a 2 year old gelding , when he is in over night his left hind stifle locks in the morning. It always eases off by the time we get to the field, it's also not every time he's in. Is this normal for a youngster? No, it isn't. BUT - Can he be "out" overnight, too? Or at least, have a shed so he can be sheltered if he needs, but out for excercise, which is the best.
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Post by misterben on Aug 30, 2014 21:03:13 GMT
Mine had keyhole surgery which was fairly inexpensive to stop it. Never happened again. Much better than the old method... Def recommend if it doesn't right itself
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Post by gilbertgrape on Aug 30, 2014 22:55:30 GMT
Definitely agree with you.Don't just leave it!! My 12 month filly had a locking stifle and it got worse over a few months but vet said "Leave it it's a youngster thing. Very common.Don't worry" Next thing was I found her in the field early one morning with a dangling hind leg. Thinking it was just her problem joint I left her for a while but it seems she had broken her upper thigh and had to be euthanased. Vet on phone said "Try to re-engage the joint"and didn't come out.
A senior vet then responded to my more urgent phone call and put her down straight away. I think vets dismiss this too lightly. It can be an ongoing problem for older equines too and can involve box rest..
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Aug 31, 2014 8:13:13 GMT
Youngsters can grow out of it, but they're always best living out 24/7 and not stabled at all. I had one who was eventually operated on - before the current keyhole version I think - and by the time he was done as vets kept putting it off he had arthritis in the stifle, so I'd say don't leave having the op for too long if it persists, specially if it is now easier. I can remember lots of box rest and then walking mine in hand up and down the drive for hours after the op. Mind you, he's now about 20yo and in a very good hacking home so still functioning but has been stiff in the stifles ever since.
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Post by fanfarefan on Aug 31, 2014 12:18:53 GMT
As the muscles develope , and they stop growing so quickly they can grow out of it , however it is best to get your vet to have a look . I have a 4yr old miniature horse who was operated on as a 2yr old as his leg would lock for days at a time , we could get it unlocked , but the next stride it would click back again, so he had the key hole surgery , which i might add wasnt cheap !!!! on both hind stifles , aftercare entailed 5/6 weeks complete and absolute box rest , so that scar tissue could develope and strengthen the joint, and then he could go out in a very small paddock so he couldnt run around , for a short time a day, increasing it gradually ,unfortunately this op was not succesful and he had the process repeated a year later, this also did not solve the problem , and even having 24hr turnout his leg still locks , so my vet advised me to have the tendon completely severed !!!! , he would then have to have 6 months box rest , for the joint to stablise, and then it couldnt be gauranteed that the head of the patella wouldnt fracture ,,,, so he is out all the time , watching his weight is a problem, but i felt that it was the better option for him , than being put through another operation , in the winter he will have access to a stable if he wants to come in , he is maturing nicely , and im hoping that his muscle structure will develope to a point at which this locking will stop , its only very ocassionally now that he has a problem , but if it takes another 2 yrs then so be it , he is a cracking show miniature , and is sound when its not locked , but he will stay out in the field until he comes right, IF he comes right , if not he will be a very pampered field ornament ,,,, i wish you all the best with your horse
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Post by mygingeisthebest on Sept 1, 2014 11:36:43 GMT
Hi guys. Thank you for your replies!
I have spoken to my vet. They said because he has only just turned two he could grow out of it, if not have the key hole surgery and one had this?
He is out 24/7 in the summer but comes in the odd night for a rest and is say 3 out 5 times in the morning it locks, it always unlocks before he gets to the field and on its own. In winter I don't have the option to leave out in winter but I am moving him to a yard where he can go out all day as my current yard only offers an hour a day in winter.
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Post by topcat01 on Sept 14, 2014 8:19:49 GMT
My 2yr old friesian x Oldenburg has locking stifles first thing in the morning , vets have seen him and said it happens when he has grown spurts , they usually grow out of it
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Post by majobgeorge on Sept 14, 2014 8:45:55 GMT
My Dales mare has this problem and she is 7 and has not grown out of it. The longest its locked is 5 days and the shortest is 7 hours so she does a really good job of it. It has not happened since i have left her out. It only happens if she is stabled overnight. I am lucky that I have a yard with a brick wall around it so in the winter she comes in with her stable door propped open and has the yard to wander round. I have spoken at length to my vet about the various procedures and have also researched for myself and none of them are easy options with no guarantees. Good luck with your
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Sept 14, 2014 9:57:17 GMT
Why bring him in at night at all? And good plan to find a yard with 24/7 turnout. With luck he'll grow out of it, but out 24/7 is the best for him in the mean time.
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Post by brt on Sept 15, 2014 8:57:12 GMT
I believe vets like to leave it till 7yrs before operating, i had one and he grew out of it, plus fatter ponies are more susceptible so if he is carrying a bit of extra weight maybe he needs i lighter diet ?
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