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Discussion on Stringhalt or type of patellar fixation condition
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New Member:
July18
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Posted on Thursday, Sep 28, 2006 - 9:01 am:
We have had a couple younger (3 and 4 yr. olds that have some Tennessee Walker breeding), that have an odd motion with the rear legs. At the walk the legs are brought forward with a strained outward circling motion. It seems like the stifle may not be bending freely. At the trot or lope the problem disappears. On a ride yesterday I followed one of the horses and with a rider on there was NO evidence of the condition. The colt had been being worked in the round pen for a week. This was the first I noticed the condition with this horse.
The other horse had shown a more extreme condition as a 2 year old. I had the vet examine him, x-rays didn't show anything. He thought it was stringhalt, but it didn't seem to match the stringhalt symptons described in discussions.
Some of the discussions on patellar locking seemed closer, but there isn't a locking, just difficulty in bring the legs up and forward at the walk. Both horses are on the lean side.
I am thinking of laying off the circles, and doing more hill climbing, to see if it helps.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Sep 29, 2006 - 6:45 am:
Welcome Chris,
Your use of the word "strained" is interesting, what makes you say it? TWH can have a fairly straight rear leg conformation and seem a bit prone to UFP. Though many do wing a bit just naturally. This could be a gait developed to prevent locking: do you ever see any of the milder changes in gait described in the article on UFP.
DrO
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New Member:
July18
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Posted on Friday, Sep 29, 2006 - 10:17 am:
Thanks Dr. O for getting back and for the questions.
By "strained" it seems the motion is stiff and uncomfortable rather than free and natural. To me it almost looks like they are walking with a cob up their butt. The vet did do a rectal exam but didn't find anything.
I will check on the vibration,strumming in the stifle as the leg starts forward, have never seen a locking of the leg back. I am not sure if those were the changes you were referring to from the article.
I will try to get pictures, or maybe a short movie, to attach, if that will work.
Chris
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New Member:
July18
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Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2006 - 12:20 am:
Dr. O.
I tried posting movie as attachment, too large a file, I did email it, hope it is helpful. I could also isolate stills from the movie if that would be better.
Thanks,
Chris
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, Oct 2, 2006 - 7:28 am:
I got it Chris, I will get it posted up here but I would also like to see what the leg is doing from the side before commenting. Would a second video taken from the side be possible that has 10 seconds of the whole horse and 10 seconds of the hind leg alone. Be sure the sun is at your back to so the leg is well lighted.
DrO
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New Member:
July18
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Posted on Tuesday, Oct 3, 2006 - 3:47 pm:
Dr. O.
I sent videos this morning via email as reply to your last posting. Let me know if they did not come through, they were larger files as they were on a regular camcorder and not a digital still camera.
Chris
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Oct 6, 2006 - 10:59 am:
After viewing the videos (attached below) Chris, I do not see any popping at the stifle to suggest subclinical subluxation and if this gait is regular, does not represent a recent change, even on both sides, and there are no other signs of incoordination, the gait may just be the way these horses go with a slightly exaggerated circumduction of the hind legs. Are the two horses you write about related?
DrO
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New Member:
July18
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Posted on Wednesday, Oct 11, 2006 - 9:22 am:
They both have Montana Travler breeding which is Tennesse Walker, Morgan, Saddlebred. The horse in the video has a much less exaggerated motion than the other which we do not have any more.
Strange thing with this horse is that I hadn't noticed anything abnormal until he was worked in the round pen, even then when he was ridden he seemed normal at the walk. He is normal at the trot and lope. He has been off now a couple weeks, the motion is less noticeable now, but still there if you are looking for it.
Thanks for your help, if you have any more thoughts I would be interested in hearing.
Chris
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Lonesome 1