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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
  
| I have an older gelding that I rope off of; he has had most of the last year off and I have been legging him back up in the last 3-4 weeks. I had him adjusted before I started riding him as he was dropping his left hip (4-5 weeks ago). His pelvis was rotated plus some other sore spots, but the chiro was able to get him straightened out and we left with him walking straight and much improved movement. He was then adjusted about two weeks ago, again with a rotated pelvis but not as bad. The other night I noticed he was dropping his hip again while walking. More noticeable when he was trotting around in the pasture.
A little background on this horse, I used to run barrels on him, but was having to get his hocks injected every 6 months and towards the end that window was getting narrower. He prefers to be roped off of so I switched him to my main rope horse, which is a lot easier on him and injections last a year + . He has had prior issues with his stifles, about 5-6 years ago and I had them blistered before due to him “dropping” in the back end. Blistering them and keeping him legged up solved that issue and the only maintenance was chiro & hock injections.
Along with seeing his hip drop, it also feels like he is occasionally dropping in his back end like he was when his stifles were bothering him, which makes sense if he lost that muscle tone while being off..
Anyway, I’m questioning if he could be going out so often because of his stifles?
What are some of your favorite strengthening exercises for the stifle besides, hill work, caveletti, & backing?
I would prefer to try to strengthen them this route and see if he improves before thinking about blistering again, but of course if there is no improvement, I’ll be taking him in for an evaluation.
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Backing in a circle both ways and walk - trot transitions done as smoothly as possible. I was told to start out with one circle each way and on the transitions to do them only on short sides of the arenas couple times a session and then gradually increase as they strengthen. She said this was good for strengthening the back and stifles |
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 Veteran
Posts: 209
| My guess would be that he is going on so often due to his stifles, maybe ask your chiropractor or vet next time they are out? For stifles, circles are harder on them so do lots of straight lines. Another strengthening exercise I like to do is transitions, it helps strengthen their back end a lot. I like to stop, sometimes back a couple steps and then ask for example a trot, you want them to pick it up promptly as they are changing their momentum and push off their hind end. Good luck! |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24955
Location: WYOMING | set up some hay bales, tall side up. Lead your horse over them making him take long slow steps over the bales. The holding up of the hind leg contacts the area and helps to strengthen it. |
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 The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
Location: Arizona | Lots of trail riding, hit the mountains and washes. Lots and lots of long trotting too. Try to keep his nose tucked when trotting, it helps build their topline. If he has had almost a year off, it's going to take some time to bring him back. Months at least. You can have him trot over some railroad ties, or logs to help build the stifle as well. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Hills - if you're lucky enough to live somewhere you've got access to them.
LOTS of long trotting with him pushed up into a frame. Use draw reins if need be.
Back him up on the ground unsaddled.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| Thank you for the suggestions! I have some hills, nothing too impressive, but I can work him up & down multiple times. I will incorporate the exercises suggested and see if we can get some improvement, thanks! |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | trotting ground poles and small jumps |
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 Regular
Posts: 67
| So for weak stifles I was told to long trot a lot. I do a mile 3x a week. I know circles are out and I live on very flat land. Anything else that we can do to change it up yet keep him strong? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| Trippin - 2015-09-08 12:02 PM
So for weak stifles I was told to long trot a lot. I do a mile 3x a week. I know circles are out and I live on very flat land. Anything else that we can do to change it up yet keep him strong?
Some of the exercises mention in this post that should help:
Trotting over ground poles/caveletti
Straight backing + backing in circle each direction
Walk/trot transitions
Good luck, it is not fun to deal with! |
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