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  Discussion on UFP worse going downhill?
Author Message
Member:
Wolfydoc

Posted on Thursday, Aug 4, 2005 - 3:43 pm:

Hi DrO,

Is UFP, specifically a mild to moderate case, typically worse going down steep hills? My horse (4 yr Kentucky Mtn Saddle Horse) was just diagnosed with this condition and the only reason I noticed any problem was because of how straight-legged (and tentative) he is going down steep hills. He doesn't lift the leg and step forward - instead he is post-legged except at the fetlock, which he flexes and drags the toe along. Bilateral signs but worse on right. No other evidence of lameness and the abnormal way of going smooths right out as the hill starts to flatten out. No neuro signs either, and he's surefooted and as balanced as could be otherwise.

Thanks DrO.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 6:52 am:

Hello Cynthia,
Yes some horses with UFP are worse going down hills but if he is not obviously locking I don't think the above description is diagnostic for the condition. We have seen some horses that just don't go downhills that well until they practice it for awhile.
DrO
Member:
Wolfydoc

Posted on Friday, Aug 5, 2005 - 10:28 am:

Thanks DrO,
I was feeling quite guilty about not taking Merln to the vet because I thought the same thing - he may not know how to go down hills very well, but after five months of practicing, including my getting off to make it easier for him, I thought I better have it checked.

My vet examined Merlin and said he can feel the MPL "catching" but the horse is not - and has not ever that I've seen - actually locking. I do feel a skip/trip at times on a rear leg during trail rides on the flats, maybe 3 to 4 times in a 2 hour ride, as if he stepped on a painfully sharp stone. And when he does this abnormal way of going downhill, you can see a jerk or almost a pop forward as the stifle flexes what little it does as he is moving down. Also, his canter, which is normally exceptionally smooth, can be very, very rough for several strides for no apparent reason. At first I had no idea what the heck was going on but now I wonder if it has to do with the stifles catching.

Radiographs on both stifles were normal. He is a bit straight angled in the upper rear legs but not horribly so. The only thing noticed on lungeing was the fact that he doesn't pick his feet up in the rear very much, more noticeable on the right. But again, he is very surefooted on the trail, not like a neurological horse who drags their feet and has proprioceptive deficits.

We're going to increase his hill climbs and have him drag around a hay bale, but he is already in fantastic condition, hard to even get him winded on a hill, so I have my doubts this will help. I'm also going to get more weight on him (an idea I'm not fond of), as he has gotten really lean over the past 5 months of riding.
New Member:
idahoeap

Posted on Monday, Jul 20, 2009 - 1:05 am:

This, I think has answered my question... I'm not sure if this user is still on... because I'd like to know what worked and what didn't?

My horse has does not have this specific Dx but was x-rayed and injected in his hock (with no improvement) and I was told to watch our for his patella...
He is having increasing trouble going downhill or at the end of a ride, as if stepping on a sharp stone. He needs a bit of weight and I'm trying. I'm also looking in to joint supplements as he is 17.3hh and a former jumper!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 20, 2009 - 8:23 am:

Shannon for more on UF of the Patella be sure to back up to Stifle Lock: Upward Fixation of the Patella and study it. You can select it off the navigation bar at the top of the page.
DrO
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