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  Discussion on Loud clicking in nearside upper hind area
Author Message
New Member:
clarktre

Posted on Tuesday, Mar 15, 2011 - 6:07 pm:

Hi, I am a new member hopefully seeking some advice. I have a 10 yr old standard bred, with this loud clicking from the nearside hip area. It does not cause lameness or obvious pain, but does seem to irritate him. This occurs when walking and I think when the leg extends rearwards. Downhill walking seems to aggravate the problem, whilst uphill seems to stop it, perhaps the leg is not fully extended. I suspect a ligament twanging over the joint and ask if anyone knows of some treatment I might use? Cheers, Trevor
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011 - 1:07 pm:

Welcome Trevor,
While a ligament is possible often these clicking noises are attributed to joint fluid popping through small joint spaces possibly creating cavitation. This is the explanation for cracking your knuckles for instance. Why do you think it irritates the horse? Is this a recent change?
DrO
New Member:
clarktre

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011 - 6:06 pm:

Hi Doc, I am not confident that the problem is due to ligaments, but your option is certainly probable, some history may help a diagnosis. I bought the horse from a pacing trainer who had retired him from racing as a 7-8 yr old about 18 months ago. We needed a steady hack for trail rides (I only ride occasionally and mostly only walk now). He was rested in a paddock for some time before I acquired him and the noise started soon after I began riding him. It seems the more exercise he has the better it is, the clicking was quite loud after the winter rest, but has improved with work, now intermittent. I 'm not sure about the irritation, he sometimes flicks his left hind leg about and I thought it was connected - might be a coincidence. He was a successful pacer that won quite a few races, could be his upper joint is worn out. Are there any tests I can try to pinpoint the prob? Is it doing him any harm or better to ride him more often? Can he get an injection into the joint to help him or can I do something else to treat it (poultices, ultrasound or heat, linaments/rubs?). Sorry, lots of questions,eh. Cheers, Trevor
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011 - 7:46 pm:

Hi Trevor,

Just curious, what's your horse's race name or can you read his freeze brand or lip tatoo?

I own and race Standardbreds and like it when they find useful homes after they are done racing. In my younger days I used to show them mostly in the versatility classes and over obstacle courses.

Rachelle
Member:
canter

Posted on Thursday, Mar 17, 2011 - 7:32 am:

Just a guess here, but since the horse was rested, and presumably lost condition from racing fitness to "retirement", could this be upward fixation of the patella brought on by loss of muscle?

I ask because when I purchased my first horse, after riding for only 1 year, he was a very fit hunter/jumper. After a few months with me, he lost condition for a number of reasons, primarily from a hard fall right after purchase that trashed my confidence, so he was not getting worked like he had been. He developed UFP and the vet (who I lost confidence in and now wouldn't let near my horse) suggested it was due to the loss in condition.

It did not present as a clicking sound, but as I slowly gained confidence and put the horse back to work (and got some younger riders to help keep him fit) he regained muscle and the episodes of locking up diminished over time.

I'm throwing this out there for consideration, Trevor, only because you say the clicking started after your horse had time off and because you said it seems to get better with exercise.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2011 - 11:50 am:

While we cannot rule out a mild UFP being present from the information presented, as Fran experiences have found I do not find the condition associated with clicking in the joint. I conjecture that the "palpable" vibrations of the medial patellar ligament coming off the bone are too low a frequency to be heard. Trevor, I see no evidence of a joint wearing out either: there would be lameness.

Pinpointing the problem comes from accurately pinpointing where the noise comes from. Walking along side the horse as he is walked might help you. As to treatment for the noise, since it is not likely to be associated with a lameness, I think I would go with a more conservative approach and try a good quality joint nutraceutical, for more on this see HorseAdvice.com » Treatments and Medications for Horses » Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » Oral Glucosamine, ChonDrOitin Sulfate, and Hyaluronic Acid, their use in Arthritis.
DrO
New Member:
clarktre

Posted on Friday, Mar 18, 2011 - 2:19 pm:

Thanks for the advice DrO, I have done some reading online and think we'll give the corta-flx a try if I can get it here (Aus). Thanks also to the other contributors, it's all good food for thought, I'll let you know how it goes, cheers for now, Trevor
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