Understanding Locking Stifles A
While the causes are not always understood, it’s possible to help your horse overcome a locking stifle with time, patience and exercise by Stefanie Reinhold
locking stifle (in vet-speak an ‘upward fixation of the patella’ or UFP) is a common
problem in horses, often unrecognized, misdiagnosed as general hind leg lameness or overlooked altogether.
WHAT DOES A LOCKING STIFLE LOOK LIKE? In severe cases, the horse will be unable to flex the affected hind leg and may even drag it behind him. Te leg looks ‘locked’ and the horse may have to kick out or move oddly to unlock his leg. In these cases, a locking stifle is hard to miss. In milder cases, however, the affliction may not be as obvious. Te horse may simply appear slightly lame, have hesitant or short stepping strides,
kick out during movement, hop, lose his stride, cross canter or change gaits for no apparent reason or frequently stumble or even fall. Tese cases of ‘catching stifle’ are often overlooked and sometimes interpreted as training or behavior issues.
WHAT MAKES A STIFLE LOCK OR CATCH? It’s important to understand the function of the locking patella in the healthy horse. 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. Te patella’s job is to secure the leg by locking in an upward position.
T
An equine bodywork professional can help release tension in the stifle through guided, interactive exercises.
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hings start going wrong when the patella fails to unlock when the
horse wants to flex the leg. Depending on the horse and on the severity of the condition, this can range from a slight hop or kick to panicked attempts to unlock the stifle.
IS MY HORSE’S STIFLE LOCKING? Your vet can help you determine if any of the following signs indicate a locking stifle:
• dragging hind feet (maybe showing wear on toe)
• reluctance to pick up feet • resistance to moving on a circle • kicking out for no apparent reason • hopping • resistance to cantering or cross canters • swinging hind-leg to the outside while moving
• frequent stumbling or even falling O
nce your vet makes the determination that your horse
is indeed suffering from an upward fixation of the patella, you can do several things to help your horse overcome this problem:
Create trust and keep your horse supple - Tis is an important factor. Your horse may already be insecure and confused if you or a former owner misunderstood his antics for behavior problems. You’ll want to pave the way for a new way of working together. Equine Bodywork is a good way to strengthen the trusting bond between you and your horse while creating supple musculature. Engage a knowledgeable bodyworker or learn some of the basic techniques yourself.
Holistic Horse™ • October/November 2010 • Vol.16, Issue 69
Courtesy Stefanie Reinhold
Courtesy Stefanie Reinhold
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