Post by holi on Dec 13, 2012 13:07:54 GMT 1
Very curious - I bought a horse nearly 2 years ago - beautiful nature but I knew she had slipping stifles. She went basically upside down, you can picture it and we started out with an EE instructor but we just didn't seem to be getting anywhere. I then got her checked and found her to be very tight and she had treatment. She started to improve but we then made the decision with expert help to follow western riding (I enjoy both) - she enjoyed it and the way of going suited her better.
At first all was great then last summer she got cast. We don't know whether it was that or whether the riding did it but her stifle got much worse. Seen by vet and started on a serious programme of exercise - I walked miles in hand with her up hills, then under saddle, then gentle lunging (large circles) and finally just recently we got the ok for schooling. She had also been having osteopath treatments and equissage.
Recently several things occured - osteopath went away for 6 weeks holiday, stepped up schooling (only 2 sessions in one week), the mud came and she had to be in more. Result was she started sticking more and did on one occassion lock fully despite vet saying that the muscles were now fully supportive. I had one lesson with her where she was a total star and for the first time lifted her back and carried me on the lightest contact - I was ecstatic but next day she was quite grumpy and I knew she was in pain. I got some bute in her and low and behold she stopped locking but was lame on her left hind which was the locking leg! Now that doesn't make sense at all - if it is mechanical then bute shouldn't cure it and she shouldn't be lame! the vet agrees.
She has been seen again by vet and osteopath and is now going for full lameness work up. We are wondering whether we have solved one thing that was masking another which she cleverly covered up by her way of going. She has occassionally now overreached and I felt it was a case of getting back moving but now shoulders can't get out of the way (if you get what I mean). Could it be back, stifle, ligaments ....whatever? Just wondered if anyone had any ideas?? (sorry its long)
At first all was great then last summer she got cast. We don't know whether it was that or whether the riding did it but her stifle got much worse. Seen by vet and started on a serious programme of exercise - I walked miles in hand with her up hills, then under saddle, then gentle lunging (large circles) and finally just recently we got the ok for schooling. She had also been having osteopath treatments and equissage.
Recently several things occured - osteopath went away for 6 weeks holiday, stepped up schooling (only 2 sessions in one week), the mud came and she had to be in more. Result was she started sticking more and did on one occassion lock fully despite vet saying that the muscles were now fully supportive. I had one lesson with her where she was a total star and for the first time lifted her back and carried me on the lightest contact - I was ecstatic but next day she was quite grumpy and I knew she was in pain. I got some bute in her and low and behold she stopped locking but was lame on her left hind which was the locking leg! Now that doesn't make sense at all - if it is mechanical then bute shouldn't cure it and she shouldn't be lame! the vet agrees.
She has been seen again by vet and osteopath and is now going for full lameness work up. We are wondering whether we have solved one thing that was masking another which she cleverly covered up by her way of going. She has occassionally now overreached and I felt it was a case of getting back moving but now shoulders can't get out of the way (if you get what I mean). Could it be back, stifle, ligaments ....whatever? Just wondered if anyone had any ideas?? (sorry its long)
