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  Discussion on Ticking noise
Author Message
Member:
Kimbrly3

Posted on Thursday, Mar 10, 2005 - 12:33 pm:

Just recently I've noticed that during a trot, the front right fetlock "ticks" when he lifts his foot to take the next step. He is just a yearling..I asked a vet about it and she said it was probably the tendon snapping to the side of the joint.
He's not lame and it doesn't seem to bother him, but it bothers me, it's loud. I've stopped all workouts and just let him hang out in the pasture hoping the rest will fix the problem.
He's on Futurity pellets as one of his supplements that has MSN in it.
Any ideas?
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Thursday, Mar 10, 2005 - 1:12 pm:

I've noticed in some of my youngsters that during growth spurts they sometimes make noises at joint/tendon areas during work. I took it easy on them but still worked and after the growth spurt slowed the sounds went away.
New Member:
Hphaler

Posted on Friday, Mar 11, 2005 - 1:56 pm:

I have a 9 year old mare that I've had since she was 2. She has always 'clicked'. Never had any lameness issues. My vet as well as fellow trainers also said it was the tendon snapping over the bone. Out of all my horses (8) she is the most tendon lax (I call it being soft in the pasterns) I took that into account when training her. She clicks at all gaits.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Mar 13, 2005 - 7:21 am:

I prefer the joint fluid rapidly traveling through small spaces theory as the cause of these noises: similar to when you crack your knuckles. The noise is harmless and sometimes temporary in growing horses.
DrO
Member:
Christos

Posted on Monday, Mar 14, 2005 - 7:13 am:

Many years ago, I read in a very credible book of Physics (Halliday-Resnick) that this cracking noise when you forcefully bend your knuckles is from micro bubbles in the synovial fluid exploding under increased pressure.
Then it takes some time for the diluted gas to form bubbles again and this is why you can't crack your knuckles continuously.
However, this does not seem to be a good explanation with horses, as their joints seem to crack on every step.

Go figure...
Member:
Sbawer1

Posted on Monday, Jun 5, 2006 - 7:11 pm:

Is there any thing that one can do to stop the clicking? I have a 6 year old mare who is being sold (maybe) to someone who wants to use her on the Hunter A circuit but she won't buy her because she has a clicking noise. It is coming from her back end - probably the ligament over the stifle. It started about 2 months ago. I have her on supplements with HA and the vet gave her a shot of estrogen today. Since this woman has had her at her barn (for the past 5 days) it has gotten louder. I think it could be from a lack of exercise?? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. (My mare did pass vetting with flying colors, no lameness issues just this clicking).
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 6, 2006 - 10:42 am:

We have a 7 yr old Oldenburg gelding that started clicking (it sounded like somewhere in the hip.) We tried warming him up very slowly and that helped but it still didn't go away and was back the next time he was ridden.

We had a veterinarian chiropractor treat him twice and he hasn't clicked since. He had slipped on wet ground and taken a fall quite awhile ago. The chiropractor said he had a rib out of alignment and also a displacement in his hip. I looked for the paper telling exactly what she diagnosed but couldn't find it.
Member:
Sbawer1

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 6, 2006 - 8:16 pm:

Thanks, I am going to try having the chiropractor looks at her and see if she can fix this noise.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 7, 2006 - 7:31 am:

I must comment on the chiropracters diagnosis: a displaced hip on a horse that is being ridden? While I am uncertain what he did that made the click go away but I am certain that a displaced hip would prevent riding. I think it likely that just as the click started unexpectedly so it went away. Good luck Mare mom and agree with your assessment that regular exercise is a good choice.
DrO
Member:
Banthony

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 7, 2006 - 10:07 am:

Dr. O - I'm sure this is my bad memory as to the diagnosis. I tried to find where I'd written it down to be more accurate and couldn't. I know the chiropractor said something about a displacement. The clicking had been going on for quite awhile before we had the chiropractor look at him.

He was better after the first treatment but still "clicked" when first being ridden. He was much better after his second treatment which was a week later. He didn't click at all after that. The horse has been off for awhile due to his owner having surgery. He is just starting back and was ridden for the first time in a month last night. He is still click free.
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