- Dragging the toe.
- Canter resistance.
- Very rough canter.
- Difficulty backing up.
- Shortened stride.
- Issues going up and down hills.
- Drifting to one side over fences.
- Problems transitioning from trot to canter and vice versa.
How do you treat a stifle injury in horses?
If it is indeed a soft-tissue injury, this may be all the treatment that’s needed. Sudden lameness with joint swelling often responds to rest, cold therapy (ice or cold water hosing),
systemic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as phenylbutazone or topical anti-inflammatory medication
.
Can a horse recover from a stifle injury?
Kaycee Monnens. In the past, an injury to the stifle joint of a horse may have certainly ended his or her career or usefulness. Now, with the ever-evolving science of veterinary medicine, afflictions to the joint
have a much higher chance of being treated or even healed
.
Can you ride a horse with stifle problems?
And while mild cases may appear vague (with only a slight lameness), there are ways to make your horse sound again, often without invasive procedures. However, if left untreated,
horses that display a regular locking stifle may be unsafe to ride and may require surgery
.
How does a horse get a stifle injury?
But any horse can injure a stifle. “
A horse could certainly slip in the paddock while playing and pull a ligament
,” says Baxter. “And years of riding and concussion of any type can take a toll on the joint, leading to arthritis, which is simply a long-term chronic injury.”
How long does it take for a stifle injury to heal?
Treatment of Stifle Injuries in Horses
In cases where the joint capsule is stretched and not ruptured, recovery can happen with
2-3 months of rest
and a slow return to activity. When inflammation is present, intra-articular medication may be recommended.
How do you strengthen a weak stifle?
Riding over raised poles (cavaletti)
is helpful for developing strength in the horse that has weak stifles or hocks. The slow action of lifting the hind legs up and over the pole will strengthen the Tensor muscle as well as the Long Digital Extensor. Both muscle groups are responsible for the stability of the stifle.
How long do stifle injections last?
That being said, it’s fairly common to have horses do well for
5-7 months after
joint injections, especially if the owner is also using Adequan intramuscular injections in between joint injections to help promote better joint health.
What does stifle mean in horses?
The stifle is
the area where the tibia (the bone that forms your horse’s gaskin) meets the femur
(the bone that extends up to his hip) and it can be compared to our own knees – when you pick up a horse’s hind leg, the joint bends forwards, just as your knee does when you walk up stairs.
Why is my horses stifle swollen?
True swelling of the stifle area can be associated with a variety of underlying problems,
from traumatic injury to OCD to infection
. The biggest question is always whether or not the swelling is within or outside of the joint, and whether the horse is lame. This determination requires your vet’s expertise.
What causes a horse to drag his hind feet?
Horses drag their hind feet for many reasons, but the main influences are
the rider, the horse’s conformation or shoeing problems
. … Low limb carriage, which can cause dragging of the toe, can be due to low heel, long toe foot conformation. Excessive toe wall thickness can also be a contributing factor.
Why does my horses stifle click?
Kathleen MacMillan of the University of Prince Edward Island’s Equine Ambulatory Service, who says that cracking or popping sounds from the hips, knees, fetlocks, hocks, and stifles are usually caused by
gas pockets moving around in the joints
(similar to when we crack our knuckles).
How do you strengthen a horse’s back end?
The best way to strengthen the hind end of a horse is
to start with stretches
. Tight muscles are weak muscles. After stretching I recommend interval training. Short vigorous spurts (similar to us doing wind sprints) followed by slower gaited movements.
What is a slipping stifle?
If the ligament gets hung up and doesn’t slip into an unlocked position, the
hind leg can’t be flexed forward
and the horse has to drag the stiffened limb forward for a few steps before the ligament releases. … This is commonly known as a locking or sticking stifle.
What causes stifle lock?
Problems occur
when the patella gets ‘stuck’ in the upward position
; this is termed upward fixation of the patella (UFP) or a locking stifle. When the patella fails to disengage from the bony ridge, the leg remains extended, giving the characteristic stance seen in horses with a locking patella.
