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  Discussion on Shaking knees
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New Member:
Brewer

Posted on Thursday, Sep 12, 2002 - 5:12 pm:

I have a 27 month old quarter horse who is currently being shown in halter. She was transported from a trainer in Tennesee to our farm. She begin to lose a lot of weight. I started her on ViSorbin to stimulate her appetite. Discontinued the Visorbin after about three weeks. Currently she is 15.2 hands and weighes 1210 lbs by the tape. She is worked five days a week behind a four wheeler for 12-14 minutes. She is feed three times a day, each feeding consist of 4 quarts oats, 8 oz. extruded soybean meal and 1.5 oz cocoa/soy oil. She eats 6 lbs alfalfa hay per day. The morning feeding also contains Race VM a vitmamin/mineral supplement and 1 qt. of buckeye alfa grow & win. Her protein intake is about 3 lbs. per day. She carries the weight well on her body and with her routine feeding less results in weight loss. However about four months I noticed her standing with her knees unlocked. She has progressed to shaking in the knees. More noticeable after being worked. Our trainer seem to think part of the reason was to much heel on her feet causing the knee to bow forward resulting in contracted tendons. This might be applicable for a younger animal but I beleive due to her age she is past that stage. Is this a correct assumption or can older horses suffer from contracted tendons. Her kness also have some swelling on the front. I am not sure if this is fluid or calcium deposits from growth plates not closing due to her standing with her knees unlocked. It feels more like fluid. I have reduced her feed and workout rountine and started her on a supplement called copperquine. We had the farrier cut some heel off and take her down to about 54 degrees. I also started turning her out in a large paddock each day. All the above appears to have helped to some degree. The shaking is not completely gone but she is standing more often with her knees locked. I am concerned needless to say with the shaking but also with swelling on the front of her knees. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We have waited a long time for a mare like this one. She has done well in the show ring with her best year to come if we can get past this.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 13, 2002 - 6:24 am:

Hello Tim,
Tendon contracture can be a problem in an adult but your horse is not an adult: she has still been growing making the problem even more likely. Usually we do not feel the tendon is contracting (though there are definately such cases) but more that the growth of the bone has outstripped that of the tendons.

If the angle of the hoof and pastern are good this is possibly the carpal flexor and the swelling on the front may be the overworked extensor insertions on the front. Though I think the supplements are not helpful, fewer calories, more forage, and the return to more natural self regulated exercise are all exactly what I recommend. Let's be honest, winning halter QH's must be obese animals on highly abnormal exercise and feeding programs which contributes to this all to common problem in this group.

Without actually seeing the conformation it is hard to recommend much on the trimming but if tHe digital flexors are involved your trainer is right adjusting the angle of the feet can make a difference and the best angle may be a matter of trial and error. I will frequently experiment with 3 degree wedge pads and tape them on both raising and lowering the heels to see the effects.

There are several possibilities for the swelling in the front of the knees and usually the cause can be diagnosed from location and appearance so I sugest you have this reviewed by a veterinarian. If there is lameness or if the swelling is intra-articular the knees need to radiographed.

For more specific information on this problem see » Equine Diseases » Foal Diseases » Tendon Laxity and Contracture. Pay particular attention to the dietary recommendations.
DrO
Member:
Brewer

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 17, 2002 - 4:53 pm:

Dr. Oglesby, thanks for your quick response. I have spoken with several trainers with simialr concensus as yours. We will continue our current process of reducing feed and excersice. I will give you an update in about 30 days.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 18, 2002 - 6:50 am:

Good Luck this can be tough and require prolonged diet restriction which I am afraid will not be good for placing in the halter shows. Then again some have turned around quickly, let us know.
DrO
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