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  Discussion on Hindquarters problem
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New Member:
sodmonstermaccom

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 19, 2019 - 1:10 am:

My 13 year old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding seems to have a problem in his hindquarters. I can observe what looks like popping in his stifle sometimes when he turns. When he backs up, he steps back shorter on the side with the popping stifle. Sometimes it seems to collapse when he turns. He seems to prefer to pace and when he does, he steps short in that leg. When he's walking forward, he seems OK and steps up under himself deeply and equally. It seems to improve quite a bit after he's been walking for a while..

I got him from a sale lot. I suspect he's a "washed up" show horse. He was malnourished and his feet were a mess. His forefeet were flat with contracted heels. His training seemed limited. He was rather hyper and did not do much but go forward and do simple turns when I got him. He hadn't learned to back up, he didn't know how to move laterally, and his head was way up in the air. However he is easy to trim, clip, load, and bathe. A few folks have suggested that he may have been a "performance shod" show horse horse. It wouldn't surprise me; he's really stunning looking. Would that kind of work affect his soundness in his stifles?

I have been injured myself and have been hand walking him a mile or two several times a week. Lately I've been riding him at a walk too. All riding has been at a walk, just cultivating relaxation and ability to carry himself along on a loose rein. He doesn't feel lame riding at at a walk. He walks out and today a friend remarked at how deeply he's stepping up under himself.
New Member:
sodmonstermaccom

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 19, 2019 - 1:17 am:

I realized that my question isn't really clear. What kind of soundness problems might I expect to see in an ex "performance shod" Tennessee Walking Horse show horse? What might be helpful for him?

I am elderly with soundness problems of my own, I won't be working this horse very hard, and simply want him to have a happy comfortable life. He's fun, smart, and friendly.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 19, 2019 - 6:45 am:

Hello Susan,
We have owned and ridden at least a half dozen ex-padded up TWH over the past decades at always it is the front feet that require extra time and effort. Low-contracted heels, collapsed frogs, stretched white lines at the toe and the accompanying seedy toe that can lead to subsolar abscesses are all common after any time up in pads. The most helpful thing will be a good farrier who can manage your horses particular problems you have while helping to maintain a good gait. Check out the articles at HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Hoof.

If I had to pick a possible stifle problem I have noticed a propensity for big-lick TWH trainers to cut the medial patellar ligament of horses that don't seem right behind (HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Stifle Lameness » Stifle Lock: Upward Fixation of the Patella). For anything more specific you are going to need a good veterinary exam to better define the problems and proceed.
DrO
New Member:
sodmonstermaccom

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 19, 2019 - 10:18 am:

Thank you Dr. Oglesby. His front feet were as you described with contracted, under-run heels, long toes, and low, flat soles. I am happy to say that an extraordinary trimmer lives locally. https://youtu.be/8cr8j1lftKw He's been trimming him every 3 weeks for 20 months and the feet are greatly improved. The effort to help him develop the best foot he can is ongoing, but very encouraging.

Next week I have an appointment for preliminary evaluation with the vet who takes care of my old Paso. The vet who comes to give shots and do quick wellness checks at his boarding facility just said to ride him up hills, but I think he merits a closer look.
Member:
sodmonstermaccom

Posted on Saturday, Jun 29, 2019 - 10:16 am:

Update: The veterinarian did an assessment on my horse. She spent a lot of time and seemed thoughtful and thorough. She concluded he does indeed seem to have a problem with his right stifle. She could feel it click or pop when he walks. He has some tenderness in his sacral area and rump on that side of his body too. She said that it could easily be related to him guarding that stifle when he travels. She suggested Cosequin and perhaps Legend IV, as well as using hills to develop fitness.

He's not acting sore now, and I am riding him in the big arena, making many transitions from walk to flat-walk with a level top line, or if possible a stretched top line. Hoping for the best.

I am reading the stifle article again; there's more in it than I can process in one run-through. Dr. Ann was impressed by how much I seemed to know about stifle problems, and I told her I learned it from this website. Do you have any suggestions or thoughts about the issue?
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