Locking stifles?

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins

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Oct 10, 2004
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I am after some advice about locking stifles. I don't know anything about them and I need to! Would you buy a horse who had locking stifles as a 6 year old, even if they have caused no problem since? Is it true that this mainly effects young horses and that most grow out of it?

Does anyone have a horse with locking stifles? What does this mean on a practical level?
 
Yes and yes.

Doesn't really bother me, but as rascal is not really a ridden horse.

I have found it improves with keeping him lean, and hill work to build up the muscles.

It sometimes makes it difficult for him to pick his feet out, and sometimes he struggles in trot or going down hill. When in trot, he canters/bunny hops the back legs and trots the fronts or canters instead.

I suspect if he was bigger, and ridden more it wouldn't be as much of a problem, that said it is a lot better than it was (he is 8).

He is fully adapted to it - and to be honest the only reason I noticed was with picking his back feet up as sometimes he has to fidget before he lets me pick it up.
 
There's someone on here that has a friend who has a horse with it, related to another horse they had before and were promised this horse didnt have it - are you following:redface: Sorry, can't remember who it was but someone else might.

Anyway, for me it would be a no and I would walk away - sorry. There are loads of horses up for sale with nothing wrong with them at the moment ....

ETA it might be FL friend ?
 
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happyhacker101 said:
Anyway, for me it would be a no and I would walk away - sorry. There's loads of horses up for sale with nothing wrong with them at the moment ....
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I know! This pony would be perfect in every way apart from this. I haven't actually been to see him yet but have found this out by some internet research (It's amazing what you can find out on on the net!). I will probably be told that the stifle has been fine in the last 4 years and that it has not caused a problem at all, but it has previously been diagnoised by a vet.

If it is true that there have been no problems for 4 years, would you take the risk? If I got the pony 5 star vetted (which I would), would the vet know that the stifle has locked in the past? If the vetting does show this, I'm guessing that this would invalidate my insurance?
 
I really don't know:redface: Knowing insurance companies, they prob would exclude that leg just incase!

I seem to think from previous posts (I have no exp of locking stifles) that most are ok as long as they are kept worked and fit, but do you really want a horse that you HAVE to ride? With a hubby and young children it could become quite stressful knowing that something could happen if you dont keep his level of fitness up?
 
Joys old fieldmate had locking Stryker as a youngster.

Vet advised 24/7/365 turnout as standing in a stable made it worse.

Vet also advised horse should be kept fit.

For me personally it would be a no no. I can't guarantee always being able to offer 24/7/365 turnout and I certainly can't keep a horse fit all year.
 
I also remember someone on here being sold a horse with locking stifles and having terrible trouble with it - but can't remember who!

It would be a no for me too. Having your first horse is worrying enough IMO. I wouldn't want to make the gamble even bigger by having a condition to worry about on top of all the other normal novicey worries.

I know the horse sounds perfect but from bitter experience, there are so many horses out there that sound perfect, who turn out to be far from it when you actually go to view them!!
 
TTruffs came with locking stifles (the technical term is upward fixation of the patella). Its common in youngsters but six isn't exactly young in the sense of physical development. Its often linked to no muscle tone. Truffs grew out of it with condition and long reining and its been a long time now since his stifles locked (as far as anyone has seen). It depends what you want the horse for but personally no, it wouldn't put me off as its stifles haven't locked in four years. Find out more about it as some are worse than others; some days Truffs would drag it for a few steps, sometimes for half an hour. Speak to the vet who treat the horse and get their advice.
PM me if you want :)
 
Just to add, re: keeping fit, its more keeping muscle tone and condition. Truffs is only three so obviously not fit and working but because he is now well fed and managed he has a good muscle tone for a resting horse.
 
ladywiththebaby said:
I know the horse sounds perfect but from bitter experience, there are so many horses out there that sound perfect, who turn out to be far from it when you actually go to view them!!
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Thats so true. I just love the sound of him in every single way. I have talked at length with the owner, done my own research and was so excited about seeing him. I don't want to waste a whole day (he is 2 hours away) going for a viewing to fall in love with him, just to have the vet say that he is failing him due to this problem. I know that if I buy him, it will always be on my mind and I could potentially end up with an expensive vet bill and a horse I can't ride.

What do to? Shall I go and see him anyway? There doesn't seem much point really!
 
I personally wouldn't. I wouldn't want to love a horse that I'd not be the best person to manage. The horse would need a more consistent person than me. Whilst I could do anything needed for my 2, I wouldn't knowingly take on an issue.
 
Mary Poppins said:
Thats so true. I just love the sound of him in every single way. I have talked at length with the owner, done my own research and was so excited about seeing him. I don't want to waste a whole day (he is 2 hours away) going for a viewing to fall in love with him, just to have the vet say that he is failing him due to this problem. I know that if I buy him, it will always be on my mind and I could potentially end up with an expensive vet bill and a horse I can't ride.

What do to? Shall I go and see him anyway? There doesn't seem much point really!
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Is that the New Forest you were seeing? I ask because i know there is a NF / NF x pony i owned once possibly currently for sale. He has locking stifles on both sides, although i'm not sure if his current owner is telling anyone who comes to view :bomb: Anyway the pony i am thinking of i owned from about 14 months old. The person i sold him to (who sold him on again) had them operated on with a lot of success but advice was that he should be kept fit and lean. Ideally worked or lunged every day. When i owned him his stifles weren't bad but after i sold him they got so that he couldn't always get up when he layed down and would sometimes get 'stuck'.

Personaly I wouldn't buy a pony with locking stifles if i had a choice.
 
Tommy, the big TB I have just posted a picture of in my latest thread about Ziggy, had locking stifles and was operated on at 4 years old. He's fine now, but has to lie down to sleep because he can't lock his legs like a normal horse.

I think honestly it's potentially a big deal especially for an insurance company, and I wouldn't buy a horse with the condition, especially a young one (says she, whose horse has just cost her £££££:redface:). Sorry, MP.
 
Hmm, i'm not sure. My kezzie shows occasional locking stifles. It was FAR worse when he was two, but not severe enough to merit an op and i was advised my vet to keep him a little on the heavy side and do lots of hill work. If he's been out of work a week or so it is more noticeable however he's virtually grown out of it now. I know others who've required surgical intervention.

If i ask myself would i have passed on kezzie if i'd known about the locking stifles then i'd answer a resounding no. It hasn't really had any impact on him. I just have to make sure to keep him fit and do weekly hill work. If i were you i don't think i'd let it put you off completely but i'd defo get veterinary advice on it.
 
Ok, I have some more info. He lives out at the moment and his stifle has only locked a couple of times in the last few years when the mud has been deep. It also locked when he was stabled the night before a show and when he had a long lorry trip. Before his current owner had him, he was stabled 24 hours a day and it was bad then.

My problems is that I can't guarentee that I will be able to keep him out 24/7 for the rest of his life. At some point over his lifetime (as I don't intend to sell him) I may be on a yard where he has to live in at night. This could potentially be a huge problem for him and could increase the number of incidents.

Very, very, very regretfully I think that I have no choice but cancel my viewing. I feel so upset. Why do I get all excited just to have my hopes knocked down again? It makes me want to give up.
 
when his stifles lock, do they free themselves or does he need help? mine pings himself free. If he is perfect in every other way then i wouldn't give up just yet :)
 
eventerbabe said:
when his stifles lock, do they free themselves or does he need help? mine pings himself free. If he is perfect in every other way then i wouldn't give up just yet :)
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No he doesn't need any help with them. Just a walk around and he is fine. I really don't know what to do.

With regard to the hill work, this is something that I have been reading about. But, the problem is that I am a nervous hacker and have chosen a yard with a 40 min off road hacking route which will do me fine. There are no hills here and to find them I would have to venture onto the country roads which I am not ready to do yet. I'm not sure that I will be able to keep him fit enough to help him overcome this, if it were to become bad again.
 
Both our youngsters had them but grew out of it by they where 2 - no problems since.
I wouldn't buy if they are known to have the problem at 6 - not going to grow of it unless it is merely due to lack of muscle tone - which may be the case - out 24.7 and moving around and plenty of exercise would prob keep it at bay but from what you are saying that may not be an option - so you may be setting yourself up for disappointment if you go ahead - sounds as if the horse needs a home who can offer him 365 x 24/7
 
Its more that they have to use their back end - so if you are asking him to work from behind, rather than on the forehand, it will have a similar muscle effect - but hill work is a simpler option :giggle::redcarded:
 
I took Tilley on knowing she had locking stifles, it is common in cobs. She has not had any problems that i'm thinking are down to that. She has sorted herself out, she just stamps the leg, only twice in the 8months of having her have i had to back her up to release them.

Not noticed a click or her leg sticking when i pick it up for ages. The leg flying out to the side yes but i think that's habit.
She has had general treatment, accupressure, reiki that has helped her generally with her back and back end.

There are so many things that can develop in a horse later on or that you are not told about.

Vetting it is a fail, insurance wise the leg or legs are not covered.
 
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