- When treating locked stifle, you should walk your horse by hand instead of riding it.
- Regular exercise is also a good way to prevent locked stifle, as a lack of exercise is one of the possible causes of the condition.
- You can attach ankle weights to your horse to work the muscles that support the stifle, strengthening them in the process. ...
What are the treatment options for the stifle in horses?
Oh, there are many detailed descriptions of treatment options, a whole bunch of surgical approaches, several different imaging techniques. However, there are relatively few studies that look at how horses affected with various conditions of the stifle actually do after surgery.
How do you keep a horse from stiffening up?
For Luna, constant movement is critically important to helping her stay comfortable (and happy). She does best on 24/7 turnout, where the constant, gentle movement helps keep her from stiffening up. Even if 24/7 turnout is not possible, increasing your horse’s time outside as much as possible may be beneficial.
What is physical therapy for horses with hind limb weakness?
Brooks described her physical therapy approach for restoring strength and coordination to horses with intermittent upward fixation of the patella or other hind-limb weakness issues at the 2011 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Nov. 18-22 in San Antonio, Texas.
What happens if you don’t treat a horse’s stifle joint?
According to Jennifer H. Brooks, PT, MEd (Masters of Education), of Equine Rehabilitation Services, in Brookline, N.H., the stifle joint (comparable to a human’s knee) is the largest, most complex joint in the horse, and dysfunction left untreated can lead to additional joint degradation.
Can a horse recover from 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.
How do you fix a horse's stifle?
Treatment. For mild locked stifle cases, exercise and a balanced hoof trim may help your horse. Lack of fitness causes weak muscles and ligaments, so simply conditioning your horse can sometimes help solve the stifle problem. 2 For severe locking, ask your farrier to "rocker," or roll, the toe of the hoof.
How do you treat weak stifles in horses?
Another great way to begin getting your horse to stretch and use his stifles is with a good-quality working walk, which requires him to be balanced on each leg and to use his quadriceps to push forward. This, in turn, strengthens muscles and ligaments.
How do you treat sticky stifles?
Conditioning is a first-line treatment for sticky stifles. When the muscles around the stifle joint are stronger, the patella is less likely to become stuck. Long, slow trots up hills that encourage the horse to lift and reach with his hind legs and flex through the stifle are the ideal type of exercise.
How much do stifle injections cost?
Costs vary. Depending on where you live and how many sites require injection, you'll pay anywhere from less than $300 to more than $700 to have both hocks done. Repeated corticosteroid injections have been linked to progressive joint deterioration.
How long does a stifle injury take to heal?
These injuries are caused by trauma, and can be localised to the ligament due to pain and swelling over the affected area. These can be further characterised with ultrasound. The prognosis for mild sprains of the ligaments is good with 4-6 weeks of rest and a further 4-6 weeks of controlled exercise.
How do I know if my horse has stifle pain?
When stifle trouble strikes, the symptoms include heat, swelling and lameness as well as back and croup soreness, which are similar to those of hock problems, initially making diagnosis difficult, says Dr. MacDonald.
Can you ride a horse with a locking stifle?
Horses that regularly display classic locking stifles and don't achieve a normal gait after a few strides may not be safe to ride. To detect the problem in a horse being considered for purchase, ride the horse at all gaits and in circles as well as straight lines.
How long do horse joint injections last?
Hock injections can be effective anywhere from 6-12 months. If your hock injections are only lasting 8-10 weeks, your horse may be a candidate for laser arthrodesis (surgical fusion).
Can you inject a horses stifle?
It's tough in any joint, but the weight-bearing surface of the medial femoral tibial joint—where arthritis is likely to develop—is one of the largest surface areas in the horse's body. We can inject the stifle like we do any joint, and we do that often.
What causes sticky stifles in horses?
Answer. Also called locking stifles, “sticky stifles” are caused by upward fixation of the patella and occurs when the medial ligament catches over the end of the femur and does not release.
How to get a horse to stop stifling?
1. Guide your horse into a movement that will unlock the joint. When your horse experiences a locked stifle, gently guide it into a position that will unlock it. If you are walking your horse and its hind leg gets stuck in an extended position, signal your horse to rein back. This movement will allow the ligament in its hind leg to slacken, ...
How to treat a locked stifle on a horse?
When treating locked stifle, you should walk your horse by hand instead of riding it. Regular exercise is also a good way to prevent locked stifle, as a lack of exercise is one of the possible causes of the condition.
What does a horse's stifle do?
A horse with a locked stifle will likely hold its hind leg stiff and straight, unable to unlock the joint. Observe your horse to see if it holds its leg taut, and if it drags the toes of its hoof on the ground behind it.
Why is my horse's hind leg stuck?
If your horse's hind leg is stuck in an extended position, it may be suffering from a locked stifle. This condition is common in young, developing horses but also occurs in old or poorly developed horses. Have your horse evaluated by a vet to identify the problem and start it on a program of careful exercise. ...
How to spot a locked stifle?
To spot a locked stifle, observe your horse's movement in different situations. A horse with a locked stifle is likely to make shorter strides, scramble down hills, and hesitate at different moments. Walk your horse around in circles as well as straight lines to observe its hind legs and range of motion.
What is the procedure for locking a stifle?
If these measures are inconclusive, your vet may try anthroscopy, a procedure where a small video camera attached to a thin tube is inserted into the joint area. An invasive procedure such as anthroscopy is only likely in severe, prolonged cases of locked stifles.
Can a locked stifle hurt a horse?
Note that a locked stifle will not cause your horse as much distress as another injury (e.g., a broken leg) so it is not likely to express pain. Check your horse's legs for swelling. If you suspect that your horse might be suffering from a locked stifle, check its hind legs for swelling.
What is the stifle in a horse?
The stifle is designed for flexion and extension of the hind leg. The stifle is the largest joint in the horse’s body and the site where the femur meets the tibia in the hind end. The former is the long bone between the hip joint and the stifle, while the latter is the bone running between the stifle and hock.
Why is my horse's stifle lame?
The stifle is a complex joint and there are many different causes that can lead to stifle lameness. The most common include: Arthritis: As with any joint, the stifle is prone to arthritis as the horse ages. Arthritis development in the stifle is often secondary to a long-term injury.
What causes a stifle lameness?
Trauma may play a role, as may osteochondritis dissecans or another disorder of the bone or cartilage. Meniscal tears: Among the most common causes of stifle lameness, a meniscal tear can range from low-grade lameness to a severe situation if the tear is severe. [3]
How to tell if a stifle is a stifle?
Reluctance to work may prove an early indicator of a stifle issue. Other signs of stifle lameness include: 1 Dragging the toe 2 Canter resistance 3 Very rough canter 4 Difficulty backing up 5 Shortened stride 6 Issues going up and down hills 7 Drifting to one side over fences 8 Problems transitioning from trot to canter and vice versa.
Why is my horse lame?
While lameness is more commonly attributed to problems with the hock joint, stifle lameness is seen frequently in performance horses. The stifle is considered the most complex joint in the horse’s body with a similar function to the human knee. Stifle injuries can result from repetitive stress, trauma, excessive use, ...
What is a sticky stifle in a pony?
In some pony breeds, this is an inherited condition. The stifle has a locking joint that allows the horse to stand while sleeping.
Why does my horse make a clicking noise?
Clicking noises may emanate from some horses’ stifles. Although alarming, the noise itself may not indicate a serious stifle issue. However, the clicking can mean a rupture of the cartilage or ligaments of the joints. In such cases, the horse is severely lame.
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About The Author
Christy West has a BS in Equine Science from the University of Kentucky, and an MS in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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About The Author
Nancy S. Loving, DVM, owns Loving Equine Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, and has a special interest in managing the care of sport horses. Her book, All Horse Systems Go, is a comprehensive veterinary care and conditioning resource in full color that covers all facets of horse care.
What are the problems with a stifle-sore horse?
In addition, the stifle-sore horse may exhibit common performance issues, such as stiffness, resistance to bending or picking up a particular lead, discomfort or unwillingness to go up or down hills, and drifting to one side when jumping.
What is the purpose of a stifle on a horse?
The stifle’s job is to allow your horse to extend and flex his hind leg. To extend, the patella slips down over a bony knob on the lower section of the femur, the medial trochlea. When the horse brings his hind leg back underneath himself, the patella slips back up over the medial trochlea.
What is passive stay in a horse?
The stifle also features the “passive-stay” mechanism, which allows the patella to essentiallylock in place over the medial trochlea, so the stifle remains extended and the horse can sleep standing up or otherwise bear weight on just one hind leg, allowing the other to completely relax. Risk Factors and Trouble Signs.
What are the bones that work together to move a horse?
These bones work together through three joints: the medial (inner) femorotibial joint, the lateral (outer) femorotibial joint and the femoropatellar joint (the joint between the femur and patella), which are all built to absorb shock and move your horse.
What are the bones of the stifle?
The stifle is equivalent to the human knee, and like the knee, it’s comprised of four bones: the femur, the tibia, the patella and the nonfunctioning remnant fibula, which is fused to the tibia.
What is the stifle in a horse?
Yet the stifle is the largest, most complex system of joints in the horse’s body. It’s susceptible to a variety of joint disorders and cumulative wear and tear, as well as ligament and tendon injuries.
Do sport horses stifle?
Sporthorses aren’t the most prone to stifle issues—that distinction likely goes to cutters and reiners, due to the nature of their work, with the abrupt stops and direction changes centered on their hind end, says Dr. MacDonald.
What causes muscle degeneration in horses?
CAUSES OF MUSCLE DEGENERATION. Stallions working through the breeding season. A general lack of exercise in horses, usually stabled. A general lack of correct exercise in horses. ( correctly ridden from behind and round ) Not enough work given when horses are ridden.
Why do horses have bone chips?
The causes: A bone chip due to an old knock, fall or other injury. lack of muscle development in the rear end of the horse. Horses can have the problem in one or both of the hind legs. An incorrect angle of the back hooves by the Farrier. Being ridden constantly ‘flexed off’ or lacking ‘straightness’.
Do vets pick stifles?
A little known fact is that Vets’ rarely pick a sti fle problem when doing an inspection for sale or purchase. This is because they rarely work them and never ride them. I have seen dozens of these cases.
How to protect a horse's stifle?
Careful progressive strengthening work , such as stretching exercises, can help protect your horse’s stifles against injury. The equine stifle is similar, anatomically and physiologically, to the human knee but a bit more complex and generally more stable. Both joints use cruciate and patella ligaments, along with other stabilizing structures, ...
How to get a horse to stop halting?
Perform stretching exercises. Always remember your personal safety and that of your horse as you attempt these exercises. They are best done in a flat area with good footing and it is usually necessary, especially initially, to have a helper hold your haltered horse with a loose but controlled lead.
How to stretch a horse's hip?
Step 1: I flex the horse’s hip and stifle by lifting the hoof upward and forward. As you flex the joints, help the horse maintain his balance by keeping the lower leg toward the midline and the horse’s weight centered over the supporting leg. Each stretch should be held for 10 to 20 seconds initially. As the horse becomes more accustomed to the stretching routine, you will be able to work on improving his range of motion.
What muscles do horses use to go up a hill?
To go up the hill, your horse will use his outside quadriceps muscles. These muscles specifically support the stifle. The ligamentous attachments of these muscles to the bones that make up the stifle joint will become stronger with incline and unbalanced footing exercise. Photos courtesy © KLM Equine.
How to get a horse to stretch?
Another great way to begin getting your horse to stretch and use his stifles is with a good-quality working walk, which requires him to be balanced on each leg and to use his quadriceps to push forward.
How to strengthen a stifle joint?
Here are two general ways to strengthen it: 1. Increase overall daily movement. Give your horse as much turnout as possible, ideally on pasture with rolling hills and with tractable companions (horses tend to be more active when pastured in the company of others).
How to make a horse go up a hill?
To go up the hill, your horse will use his outside quadriceps muscles.
What is a stifle in a horse?
What’s a stifle? The stifle joint is, of course, in the horse’s hind leg. It’s analogous to the human knee joint. However, the horse’s stifle is quite a bit different from the human knee. For example, the stifle “joint” is actually made up of three separate joints.
What to do after horse surgery?
After surgery, it’s pretty common for horse owners to be asked to invest in a bunch of different products to “help” with their recovery . There are all sorts of very appealing rationales for these sorts of therapies (e.g., to decrease inflammation, “protect” cartilage, provide “building blocks” for cartilage, etc.)
What does "stifle" mean in the dictionary?
I have no idea why this is. Even the Unabridged Oxford English Dictionary says that the word, “stifle,” is “of obscure origin.”. Horses have been observed to have problems with the stifle joint for a long, long time.
What does it mean when a horse gets stuck in a patella?
When the patella gets stuck in a horse, the horse, in another bit of the unique verbiage that has been around for hundreds of years, may be said to be “stifled.”. As we’ve learned more and more about horse joints, we’ve been able to get better images, so we have a much better idea what’s going on inside them.
Do horses with more severe problems have less chance of returning to work?
Horses with more severe problems have less of a chance of returning to work than do horses with less severe problems (you might be able to see this on an X-rays, for example). This is usually the case in medicine, by the way.
Do horses get needles stuck in their stifles?
Whereas previously, stifles never got much attention unless there was an obvious problem, now, at least in certain circles, there a lot of horses that get needles stuck into their stifle joints with somewhat alarming regularity.
