At 10:15:34 on 20.06.09, kimbo wrote:
Hi, my 30 year old mare Adella has developed a strange clicking sound which appears to be coming from her back end near her flanks. I first thought it was her seat saver which has a plastic buckle and it was somehow catching when riding. Anyway, since then this plastic clicking sound can be heard when I bring her in from the field and ride / school her. It is very intermittent. I have placed my hands all over her back end but as I don't really know what I am doing I was wondering if you have ever heard of anything so strange?? She doesn't appear to show any signs of being in any pain. Obviously because of her age she tends to be stiff on her right rein. I give her devils claw in her feed. She is out 24 hours during the summer months which she loves although could this be making matters worse. She does tend to get slight arthritis during the summer??

At 17:02:26 on 28.07.09, rolymo wrote:
We had a horse with similar problems on our yard and the vet said it was clicking stifles. It was a young horse and he recommended the farrier leaving the heels high and toe short to see if this resolved the problem, it did. However he did say it was a common problem but in older horses. Best check with a Vet or Farrier.

At 14:29:54 on 31.07.09, kimbo wrote:
Thanks a lot roylmo I must admit that sounds a likely cause at the sound is definiately coming from that area. Mu farrier is due next week so will have a word with him.

At 14:30:44 on 31.07.09, kimbo wrote:
Oops forgive the spelling! :-(

At 13:00:03 on 02.08.09, HorseVet wrote:
Hi Clicking in itself isn't necessarily a problem. It's usually the tendons making a sound against the bone. In young horses it might be a sign of weakness in upper leg muscles but not as bad as to cause locking stifles. My advice would be to work your horse on hills to strengthen the hind end and increase the tension in tendons etc. I'm not a fan of messing around with correct foot balance when there isn't a lameness issue to correct. Best wishes HorseVet
http://www.naturalhealingsolutions.co.uk

At 13:02:43 on 02.08.09, HorseVet wrote:
PS. I'd keep her out 24/7 as the muscles are more likely to maintain strength with constant movement. If the arthritis gets worse that can be addressed as a separate issue. HorseVet