Posted 2014-10-25 12:12 PM Subject: Any ideas... possible stifle problems
Member
Posts: 36
Just bought a 4 year old that had been broke as a 2 year old, turned out, and then the owner got busy with school and never got the chance to bring him back up. Needless to say the horse is NOT in good shape. I've been riding him and it's actually pretty impressive what all he remembers and can still do after so much time. He will lope really nice circles to the left, but when I ask him to go to the right, he starts hoping around a little and won't catch the right lead unless forced. At first I thought it was behavioral or that he just didn't know how to catch that lead. But when I lunged him, I noticed that he will catch the lead, but he has a hard time keeping it. He will either cross fire or switch to the left lead altogether. Could this be a stifle problem? I know he is at the age that his hocks would be fusing, would that cause him to not catch the lead? I have an appointment for him to get a lameness exam and his teeth done (his teeth are horrible) in two weeks. Just wanted opinions before he gets looked at. The waiting is the worst...
Posted 2014-10-25 6:18 PM Subject: RE: Any ideas... possible stifle problems
Elite Veteran
Posts: 898 Location: Mountains of VA
My first thought is stifles but it could be something so simple as he just needs to get fitter by walking hills and learning how to use his back/hindquarters. Lope and trot really big circles and walk lots of hills.
Posted 2014-10-25 6:25 PM Subject: RE: Any ideas... possible stifle problems
Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846 Location: Florida..
hes 4.................and if he has been off he may not be strong enough to keep that side.. horses like humans can be stronger on one side or another..
Posted 2014-10-26 7:01 PM Subject: RE: Any ideas... possible stifle problems
Elite Veteran
Posts: 898 Location: Mountains of VA
I have tried estrone on two different horses of two different breeds........don't waste your money. I have also had two different horses of two different breeds injected.........don't waste your money.
Walking hills and lots of collection making your horse use it's back and hindquarters is the best solution. It is possible that the stifles would need to be cut but I would start with a full year of conditioning first.
Posted 2014-10-26 8:27 PM Subject: RE: Any ideas... possible stifle problems
Horsey Gene Carrier
Posts: 1888 Location: LaBelle, Florida
I would let this horse get a little fitter before evaluation on the stifle. Do some more slow work before asking him to carry himself faster and in form. Give him some time to get in shape.
Any ideas... possible stifle problems
