Locked Stifle Joints in Horses

Locked Stifle Joints
For mild locked stifle cases exercise and a balanced hoof trim may help your horse. Lack of fitness causes weak muscles and ligaments so simply conditioning your horse can sometimes help solve the stifle problem 2 For severe locking ask your farrier to rocker or roll the toe of the hoof. They can also fit your horse with corrective shoes and pads to help the hoof break over before the locking occurs.
Certain cases that do not respond to conditioning or corrective farrier work may call for surgery performed by a veterinary surgeon called a medial patellar desmotomy 4 During the surgery a vet makes small incisions in the patellar ligament while the horse is sedated and standing. This frees the strain of the ligament allowing for ample movement within the joint and alleviating the catching. However since freeing the ligament often causes instability in the patella itself the downside to this surgical treatment is the potential development of both arthritis and bone spurs.
Prognosis for Horses with Locked Stifle Joints
Locked stifle joints are often mild to moderate problems that can be remedied through exercise corrective shoeing and hoof trims that allow the horse to unlock its joint through natural movements. Horses dealing with severely locked stifle joints can still live happy healthy lives after being treated by a veterinarian or undergoing surgery. Owners of horses that have medial patellar desmotomy surgeries should also be mindful of any future developments that may indicate arthritis or bone spurs. Seek veterinary help if any signs of these issues begin to appear
How to Prevent Locked Stifle Joints
Some horses are more likely to experience locked stifle joints than others but owners can take preventative care steps to keep their muscles strong and healthy. All horses can benefit from regular exercise on a schedule that is catered to each horses specific needs
Gradual Exercise
Since the lack of muscle tone may contribute to locked stifles horses should be exercised gradually. Activities like trail ridingwhile increasing the distance and speed very slowly and over several weekswill help a horse achieve its ideal fitness level in a safe way.
Strengthening Specific Muscles
Try cavaletti training over small wooden jumps or pole work that makes your horse pick up its feet. Lunging your horse on a line or riding it on a slight incline so that it drives with its hindquarters also makes for safe training when done in small slightly increased
intervals. Its important to start slowly avoid overworking your horse and thoroughly discuss your strategy with a veterinarian before beginning any training regimen if the horse has already experienced locked stifles