Tally's leg

[MadMumInKent]

Update from my post last night which was on the Cafe forum... I'm going to call the vet tomorrow morning. He's slightly worse today if anything :( For those that didn't read my post, he jumps when I run my hand down his leg to pick up his hoof, he lifts the leg abnormally high every now and then when walking, sometimes he drags the hoof. So I thought it best to find out exactly what's going on, whether its just a strain, or whether its something more. He was only vetted 2 weeks ago, and nothing showed up then, so I really don't know whats up. I'm worried :( My YO said that if it were her horse, she'd get it checked out, so I'm going with her opinion. Hopefully the vet can get out asap so at the very least my mind can be put at rest.

[Stella2]

I would have the vet out if he was mine. They come out the same day you call. Its unfairly early for you, but welcome to the world of horse ailments! :rolleyes:

[madferret]

Hi MMIK,

Try not to worry, he may have got over excited during the journey, or through the fence and banged it!.
Your vet should give you a good idea of what it is when he sees it.
Horses ('specially our natives) are resilliant, hardy little things, so try to keep calm and not worry to much tonight and I'm sure you'll find its something relatively minor.

Keep us updated :)

[MadMumInKent]

Yep, it is unfair Stella... 9 days into horse ownership :o I thought I was used to animal worries what with my menagerie of animals at home, but no, its a whole new kind of worry.

[MadMumInKent]

Thanks Madferret :) Its hard not to worry, but at least I know he's safely tucked up in his stable at the moment, had a nice grooming session, lots of pampering, got a nice salt lick in his stable that I bought today (he does nothing but lick me, so thought I'd see if there's a reason!), had a brand new headcollar this week too, he doesn't know how spoilt he is! ;) The past fortnight has been the most expensive of my life! :eek:

[aliw]

Oh no, I thought it would be good news! :(
Hopefully it won't take too long to put him right and you'll be able to ride soon. :)

[momofsix]

I would definitely have a vet look at it. Hopefully it will turn out to be nothing big. But you might as well start building up a relationship with a good vet. I hope you have an easier time finding one. No vets in our area are taking new clients. They have waiting lists for several months. Abby needs her teeth floated and I will probably have to call the local University's mobile service. Let us know what happens!

[brandysnap]

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[*Rachel_George*]

Good luck, hope all is fine, sure it will be

[wellie]

Good Luck Madmum, try not to worry too much as Stella says - welcome to the world of Horse owning!

[nutkin]

Hopefully its nothing too major. Good luck with the vet.

[horsey1]

MMIK
Hope every thing goes ok with the vet thinking about you and tally ;)
Let us know how you get on

[*Rachel_George*]

Good luck for today :D
At least you dont have a mare that nearly squirted on you yesterday and squirted up all the walls last night because the TB in the stable next to her was just so yummy :rolleyes:

xx

[MadMumInKent]

Tally has a slipping stifle. The vet showed me a way to get it back in when it slips, and said that it won't affect him, just make sure I keep his weight at a sensible level, and keep him in work. Am going to search for it on Google and have a ready :)

[Stella2]

I've never heard of that condition :confused: If you learn more about it, will you come back and tell us?

[brandysnap]

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[MadMumInKent]

OK, I've found this:

"Luxating Patella: Otherwise commonly known as any one of the following:- Slipping Stifle, Slipping Patella, Locking Stifle and Locking Patella.
When a horse or pony 'rests' one of it's hind legs when sleeping standing up it will hook (for want of a better description!) one of the ligaments over a spur at the bottom of the femur in the stifle joint, which locks the leg straight to stop the horse falling over!
Sometimes, due to weakness, confirmation and sometimes injury this mechanism fails and the horse is unable to 'un-lock' it's joint. This is known as luxation. "


The vet said its not too bad as it can be slipped back in - if it were locked completely then that would be problem. He said when it happens, either turn him round in a very tight circle fast, which can get it back in again, or else bute him and put him out in his field, and a good gallop will get it back in again. Its basically a dislocating knee cap.

[brandysnap]

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[Stella2]

Well, I never knew! :) Doesn't sound too much to worry about.

[MadMumInKent]

I don't know Brandysnap. They could have known about it, though I spoke to his previous owner this morning and said I was getting the vet out - she sounded surprised that I was having problems. It does make one wonder, as he was only with them for a couple of months. The owner before that though had him for 6 years and he did very well at HOYS and Olympia with her. Its likely to keep happening, yes, but shouldn't affect him badly. He may tend more towards arthritis later on, but I knew that would be a likelyhood anyway with the stuff that the vetting threw up (slipping stifles wasn't picked up on the vetting, but the vet today said that's not unusual as it comes and goes).

To be honest, I'm relieved its not something more serious. Tally can still do all I want him to do, which is really just provide me with loads of enjoyment. Of course in an ideal world, he'd be perfect, but there's not such thing ;)

I've read up, though there's not an awful not of info that I could find, and it seems that maybe some hill work will help build up the muscles and that could help with it. I'm wondering if it's shown itself because he's hardly been ridden since I've had him, as I was waiting for the saddle etc.

[brandysnap]

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[chickflick1066]

MMIK - sorry to hear of Tally's condition but as you said thank goodness it isnt anything more serious..

I hope you enjoy many happy years together :D

[nutkin]

glad to hear that its nothing too serious. as you say it may well have shown itself due to him not having done much work and as you know where he came from it is very hilly which may be why they would not have known about it previously. i guess this means that you have more valid excuses to go out riding more often now :D

[shandy84]

The only thing I would be careful with is stable size etc as at a local yard a horse had the same thing and because her stall was a bit small apparently it made it harder for them to fix it glad he's okay though

[NoviceNic]

Mad Mum - Is he likely to get it whilst you are riding him?? If so you'd better get used to galloping quick!!!

:-0

[momofsix]

I am relieved to hear that it is nothing more serious. Abby was only owned by the girl we bought her from for 2 months and there was lots she didn't tell us. We have since contacted the owner before her and found out the whole story. I guess there is always stuff you don't know until they are all yours.

[~Perdita.M~]

Ouch, poor Tally! Wonder if it hurts them as much as it hurts us? Had my kneecap out three times, and the thought of someone making me turn in circles or run about while it was out is making me sit here and cringe :D Bless him.

[cazrider]

Good news Madmum. Glad its not anything more serious :) As someone said, welcome to the joys of horse ownership. ;) There's always something for us to worry about.

I think Sennie has something similar, as he has a clicking stifle. It doesn't actually dislocate, but can make a horrible click. Like you, that's something I didn't know about until I got him home, but again, the vet has said its nothing to worry about.

Don't know about you but the looking after part is just as much fun, isn't it? ;)

[Drummers mum]

Whew! I really felt for you there! Glad everything will be ok!

Don't know if this helps but to strengthen Drummers pelvis the Bowen lady said to brisk walk up hills, not trot, to come down hill as they really have to use their bums and do pole work to make him stretch. She also said not to do tight circles at first but use alot of half halts, transitions and back up to get him stepping under himself.

I hoe you find that the fitter he is the less it happens, perhas the didn't ride him much at his last place?

Welcome to ony ownership btw!!! :D :D

[VickiGG]

Hi MadMum
I use a herb mixture (that I buy made up from a horse herb place called www.brookbyherbs.co.nz - but I'm sure you can get the same thing there somewhere - called FREEMOVER - it's a mixture of herbs to help all the joints free moving - it may help....my old guy is like a spring chicken on it and I give it to my 8 y/o now too because there is nothing harmful and no drugs in the mix. :)

[MadMumInKent]

Thanks to you all :) I had a ride this morning, he was fine when I was riding him. He is still having the problem, but it only seems to be when he's standing around, so once we got going he was fine. Had a bit of a schooling session, and took him out along the lane and back without the other horses, and I was so proud of him, he didn't panic at being on his own, just poodled along (keeping an eye on where his girlfriends were at the time I hasten to add) :D

He was so calm and laid back this morning, I let my oldest son have a little ride around on him too. I can't believe how lucky I am, this pony is so well behaved, so patient, and so friendly :) I love him already, I couldn't ever imagine being without him :D

[chickflick1066]

I found a pretty decent description of locking stifle in your interested but you seem to know all about it.

Is he stabled at night? Perhaps being in the stable is aggrevating his symptoms. It just said the horse has to be kept moving as much as possible which is why stabling worsens the condition.

I dont no if that helped but you know...any pics from his new home?

[MadMumInKent]

Yes, Chickflick, he's stabled at night, but he always has been in his previous home too. If he was left out all night too he'd balloon, and that would probably make the problem worse, as the vet said that 'fat little ponies' have this problem more than other horses, and so I need to keep an eye on his weight. I haven't taken any new pics since his first day with me - I'll take the camera down this afternoon or tomorrow and snap away :)

[chickflick1066]

Yea the book said unfit or tubby horses are prone to the condition. Is muzzling him an option?

I'll eagerly wait pics, he is soooo scrummy :D