Young horses often spontaneously grow out of upward fixation of the patella (locked stifle) as their bodies mature. Last Updated: March 30, 2019 Give the horse a break when he is physically or emotionally strained. Get out of the stall - If at all possible, get your horse out of the stall and into an outdoor environment 24/7.

Engage a knowledgeable bodyworker or learn some of the basic techniques yourself. The stifle joint in a horse’s hind leg corresponds anatomically to the knee joint in the human leg. You can pick this up later, once he's completely sound. You should also walk your horse up and down hills and on uneven terrain to further strengthen the muscles.

This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Avoid buying a horse with obvious conformation faults like crooked or overly straight legs. Note that a locked stifle will not cause your horse as much distress as another injury (e.g., a broken leg) so it is not likely to express pain. Or have him fit your horse with corrective shoes and pads to help the hoof break over before the locking occurs. Your horse may not be able to alleviate its locked joint on its own and may drag its leg behind. After ascertaining that a locking ligament problem is presenting, x-rays may be recommended to rule out other causes, and also to check for secondary wear and damage to the joint. For a horse to doze off while standing or simply to take weight off another leg, the weight-bearing leg 'locks' and becomes a sturdy pillar to support the resting horse.

There isn’t much an owner can do to correct this faulty conformation, but putting the horse in a gradual conditioning program will strengthen the muscles around the stifle and decrease the incidence of locking. In one study1 that looked at treatments for locking stifles, 40% of horses with locking stifles showed complete recovery, and 20% had marked improvement following corrective shoeing. For mild locked stifle cases, exercise and a balanced hoof trim may help your horse. The farrier encourages hoof rotation by trimming the inside wall or applying a lateral heel wedge. 12 May 2016 #2. She is also a Member of the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011.

This article has been viewed 6,083 times. Stifle injuries can be difficult to detect. If your horse has the condition, he’ll stand with his hind leg locked in extension (it will appear very straight and stiff) and he may drag the toe of his hoof along the floor behind him. The stifle joint has a locking mechanism which is designed to allow the horse to be able to sleep standing up. By using our site, you agree to our, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Treat-Locked-Stifles-in-Horses-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-Locked-Stifles-in-Horses-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Treat-Locked-Stifles-in-Horses-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9169268-v4-728px-Treat-Locked-Stifles-in-Horses-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"