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Member
Posts: 15
| I recently got a horse who will not turn the second barrel, but turns everything else. She has had her stifles injected for being "loose" I am not real sure as to what loose stifles are and what they consist of. She has a slower leg movement in her hind end and sort of drags her toes. Has issues getting into her left lead. BUT the horse is not lame what so ever, has not taken a lame step. Only issue is i am having trouble getting her to turn her second barrel. She gets to the back side and says no. But her third and first she turns effortlessly. I am taking her to the vet on tuesday, but I was curious as to what everyone though could be wrong. I know it is in the hind end as i have had her front feet radiographed the first time I had the stifles injected and looked at. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
  
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | The sort of drag her toes part would have me thinking of EPM, I would have her tested since your taking her to the vet and sometimes it could take a good adjustment from a Chriopractor.. My gelding a few years back was kinda draging his back toes too and seem really sore had him adjusted by a Chiro and was back to himself after and never took another bad step. |
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Member
Posts: 15
| I had her adjusted just a few weeks ago. She said her pelvis was rotated foward on the left (which our main issue is the left) and that her stifle felt a little loose on the left. I wonder what causes loose stifles and how to strengthen them. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | how in shape is your mare? Her stifles just may not be as strong as you think. I recently had thought maybe something was going on with one of my guys as he had that "stepping in a hole" feeling but not all the time and turns out he was super tight in his back and just needed a good massage. He's been fine ever since. He normally gets one once a month and it helps SO much. Have you had her hocks looked at as well? |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | Long trotting and hill work are suggested for stifle strengthening. |
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Location: Middle TN | Just like anything - there are good chiropractors and there are not so good chiropractors. I have a horse waiting to see a good one again (she also works on me) that had fixed a similar issue a year ago - dragging his back right and even tripping that yes included behavioral problems - the good one fixed him in 1 visit. In a hurry I went ahead and had him adjusted by someone that was recommended by a local vet (should be good right?) wrong! That was a total waste of money in what she charged and fuel and even though she was cheaper I should have just kept my almost 2 week out appointment with the good one. I would try another chiropractor. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | when they "injected" her stifles for being "loose" are you referring to the vet having them blistered? |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | I would tend to think that the toe dragging is due possibly to EPM. Strenthening loose stifles...lots of long trotting and hill work. |
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The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | I will say one more thing, and this may not be the case for your horse, but my mare at one time had an odd rhythm and cadence loping clockwise on the right lead. She occasionally also felt like she was stepping in a hole at a walk. After trying a bunch of things, it ended up being that her hip was "out." The left hip was higher than the right. Once he adjusted her, she was 100% sound in that regard and no more weird lope or stepping in a hole. Also, she was able to push off the backside and sit down more in her turns. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 542
| Look for soreness and rule it out...check locking stifles and stifles are complicated so don't waste money at a vet that's a dog and cat vet with this problem.
After that turn her left. It is a different turn than she has at the second barrel, it may fix your issues and she might work all 3 for you that way. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| hoofs_in_motion - 2018-03-27 6:55 AM
when they "injected" her stifles for being "loose" are you referring to the vet having them blistered?
A little off topic but I'm curious what goes into blistering stifles? |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | dragging a toe is also a classic sign of weak stifles and in some instances can be a sign of hock soreness as well. If they are sore enough in the stifles that pain can travel downward to their hocks and upward for that matter, as well as presenting with front end lameness. Who was it that told you they horse had loose stifles? The vet? Did they palpate? X-ray? Lameness exam?? When did they inject and how old is this horse?
I've had personal experience with a stifle sore horse. Unfortunately it was not a good outcome for mine as he has a collapsed stifle joint and blew out a collateral ligament last summer. He is done as a performance horse. I too heard all sorts of diagnoses for my horse, including EPM. My strong suggestion is to find a REALLY GOOD equine vet and have them go over your horse.
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| rpreast - 2018-03-27 7:47 AM
hoofs_in_motion - 2018-03-27 6:55 AM
when they "injected" her stifles for being "loose" are you referring to the vet having them blistered?
A little off topic but I'm curious what goes into blistering stifles?
There is different ways of doing it. Internal and external. THe goal with any blister is to CREATE scar tissue. When it heals the scar tissue forms and essentially makes the joint and ligaments stronger through the healing process. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 891
| runfastturnsmooth - 2018-03-27 9:03 AM
Look for soreness and rule it out...check locking stifles and stifles are complicated so don't waste money at a vet that's a dog and cat vet with this problem.
After that turn her left. It is a different turn than she has at the second barrel, it may fix your issues and she might work all 3 for you that way.
My mare was like yours. Yes she needs her stifles injected, yes if you do one, you might as well do both & I changed her to the left & she runs great. At first I ran her to the right & she turned it great but she was not going to turn her 2nd. Her 3rd was fine. I agree with the taking her to a good equine vet, not a cattle vet. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | FLITASTIC - 2018-03-27 12:26 PM
rpreast - 2018-03-27 7:47 AM
hoofs_in_motion - 2018-03-27 6:55 AM
when they "injected" her stifles for being "loose" are you referring to the vet having them blistered?
A little off topic but I'm curious what goes into blistering stifles?
There is different ways of doing it. Internal and external. THe goal with any blister is to CREATE scar tissue. When it heals the scar tissue forms and essentially makes the joint and ligaments stronger through the healing process.
Ouch, that sounds painful. |
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