At 16:07:47 on 21.02.10, julia42 wrote:
I have a rising 2 year old welsh section A filly who has a locking stifle. What is the best way to treat or manage this condition and will she grow out of it.

At 17:43:14 on 23.02.10, Angelalain wrote:
I don't know what the vet will tell you, but my 4yr old welsh b grew out of it when she muscled up. She is now 10 and in a PC home where she is sj and cc up to 3ft and winning everywhere. To my knowledge she no longer has the problem. At one point I loaned her out for her to get experience (at 5) and the girl who had her allowed her weight to drop (she was a slightly built pony) and the problem returned. When she changed homes and was better fed and worked she picked up again. Apparently there is an operation which can be done, but many vets don't reccomend it because it can cause early arthritus. It certainly looks nasty when they get stuck. If you push her backwards it should free off. Alternatively the vet showed me how to put a rope around her pastern and pull the leg forward, up towards her girth area. This will free it if really stuck, but you must use a soft rope not your hand to avoid getting kicked. It can come out with a cow kick! Excuse me if I'm telling you something you already know!!!

At 08:39:39 on 24.02.10, Flicka wrote:
I can back up what Angelalain has said about older horses. I knew one that would only get his locking stifle back if the owner let him lose muscle condition. Working up hills is particularly good exercise. I've read that certain conformation faults can lead to locking stifles, like cow hocks and narrow behind and if the angles of the hind limbs are either too much or too little. Hopefully HorseVet or more members will have experience of youngsters with it.

At 20:47:47 on 24.02.10, NMH wrote:
I've had 2 Connemaras with this as 3 year olds. One grew out of it entirely by 4, the other it got much less & was never a problem,thro' a long & extremely active life, till old age when it would sometimes "give" & helped to lead to his retirement. I think straight leg conformation is a factor, & the relatively slow muscle development of natives, who aren't truly mature till 6 or 7. I'd leave her out whenever possible, I never saw mine get locked in the field, & avoid lengthy stabling or too early lungeing etc. I did know one section A who had the op, & wasn't quite the same afterwards, so personally I'd avoid it & let time & natural development cure it if at all possible. Hope that helps, others may have different experiences.

At 22:38:08 on 01.03.10, HorseVet wrote:
I agree with those posts that advise hill work and time to build the upper leg muscles and put more tension on the patellar ligament. Cutting the medial patellar ligament is an old remedy but invariably leads to arthritis in roughly 2 years time .... don't do it! Best wishes HorseVet
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