How to help your horse overcome a locking stifle

A locking stifle, in vet-speak called 'upward fixation of the patella' (UFP), is a rather common problem in horses, and one that is often not recognized, misdiagnosed as general hind leg lameness or overlooked altogether. While the causes are not always understood, it's possible to help your horse overcome a locking stifle with time, patience and exercise. This article provides some pointers on how to detect and overcome the problem. Also read my article in the Holistic Horse Magazine, pages 32 and 33 of the Oct/2010 issue:

What does a locking stifle look like? In severe cases, the horse will be unable to flex the respective hind leg and drag the leg behind him. The leg looks 'locked' and the horse may have to kick out or move oddly to unlock his leg. In this case, a locking stifle is hard to miss.I milder cases, however, the affliction may not be as obvious. The horse may simply appear slightly lame, have hesitant or short stepping strides, kick our during movement or hop, lose his stride, cross canter or change gaits for no appearant reason. These cases of 'catching stifle' are often overlooked and sometimes interpreted as training or behavior issues.

What makes a stifle lock or catch?

First it's important to understand the function of the locking patella in unafflicted horses. The patella corresponds to the human knee-cap. In order for a horse to stand and doze off, sleep standing up and taking weight of another leg, it's important that the weight bearing leg 'locks' and becomes a sturdy pillar, such the leg of chair, to support the resting horse. It's the patella's job to secure the leg by locking in an upward position (for more detailed explanation of the anatomical elements involved, please see an antomy book such as Horse Anatomy: A Pictorial Approach to Equine Structure).

An excellent article from the veterinarian perspective can be found here.

Things start going wrong when the the patella does not unlock when the horse wants to flex the leg. Depending on horse and severity, this can lead to panicked attempts to unlock the stifle or to a slight hop or kick.

How do I know if my horse's stifle is locking?

Get your vet involved. Only a vet can make a determination whether any of the following signs can point to a locking stifle:

• horse drags hind feet (maybe even shows wear on toe), reluctant to pick up feet
• horse resists moving on a circle
• horse kicks out for no apparent reason or hops (often misunderstood as behavior problems)
• horse resists cantering or cross canters
• horse swings hindlegs to the outside while moving
• horse tends to stumble a lot or even fall for no apparent reason

What to do to help your horse overcome a locking stifle:

Once your vet makes the determination that your horse is indeed suffering from an upward fixation of the patella, there are several things you can do to help your horse overcome this problem:

Create trust and keep your horse supple

This is an important factor. Your horse may already be insecure and confused, you - or a former owner - may have misunderstood his antics for behavior problems and you will want to pave the way for a new way of working together. A good way to strengthen the trusting bond between you and your horse while creating supple musculature is bodywork for horses. Engage a knowledgable bodyworker or learn some of the basic techniques yourself.

Develop a gymnasticizing program and stop 'training' for a while

Until your horse is physically completely fit for his job, you are best advised to stop trainng. For example, while he is still dealing with a catching stifle, he doesn't need to learn how to sidepass. You can pick this up later, once he's completely sound. Instead, develop a gymnasticizing program for your horse. The absolute minimum is 3 x 1 hour per week of targeted gymnastic exercises.

Get out of the stall!

If at all possible, get your horse out of the stall and into an outdoor environment 24/7. This will make him move about on his own and every step taken will strengthen his quadruceps and the ligaments around the patella.

Get moving - on a hill!

Incorporate hillwork into your gymnasticizing routine. Look for a hill or an incline where you can lunge your horse in both directions in a good working trot.

Cavaletti and Co.

Use caveletti and ground poles to get your horse to lift his legs and strengthen the quadruceps. You don't need proper equestrian equipment. PVC pipe from the hardware store does nicely or one of the old beams that's sitting in your barn. Anything that's safe and has the right dimensions will do. A great resource is Ingrid Klimke's book Cavaletti: The Schooling of Horse and Rider over Ground Poles.

Create forward movement

Your horse will most likely move slightly on the slow and inhibited side. He may be weary of the fact that his stifle could lock at any moment. He has every right to be worried, but at the same time, he needs to move energetically, if the gymnastic exercises are to have any effect. Encourage forward movement and work at a good working pace. Give the horse a break when he is physically or emotionally strained. Watch for changes in breathing or worried facial expression.

Go swimming

Yes, this is easier said than done, I'm still looking for a good place to swim my horse in South Central Wisconsin... However, if you do have the ocean or an accessible lake or stream nearby, please feel encouraged to explore swimming with your horse. This is an excellent exercise to strengthen all muscles without impact.

Most of all, don't give up on your horse! A horse with a tendency to have locking or catching stifles will need constant maintenance to remain sound and fit for riding, but chances for recovery are very good.

Alternative treatments include several forms of surgery, which you may want to discuss with your vet.

If you have a story to share, please email me!

Enjoy your horse!

Stefanie Reinhold