Stifle/hip catching, back foot dragging?

smokypocolena · Yearling Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 18

Hello, I purchased a 5 year old AQH gelding a little over a month ago. When I had the farrier come out to trim his hooves, he noticed he had a stifle problem when he attempted to lift one of his hind legs. After trimming, we lunged him and farrier pointed it out to me. You can see his hip/stifle catching at times and his hoof seems to drag at times.
I do not have a trailer at this time, but will be purchasing one in the next couple of weeks so I can take him to an equine vet in Jackson, MS.
Is this a common problem, what are the treatment (s) can it be treated? We have not ridden or worked him since we've had him. All I know about him is that he was sold to a guy to use for roping and "didi not work out for roping" ALso, wehn we got him, he had his 2 front hooves shoed only. Any ideas?

horsetrainer89 · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject:

Well many people only shoe their horses front feet so that will most likely not be anything. Did you have a vet check on that horse before you purchased him? If you did, the vet would have caught that. I would have the local vet come out for now that does horses, so that you can get a basic diagnosis. They may even be able to fix the problem. I am not sure exactly what it could be or anything about it because all of my horses have never got hurt, so I cannot help you with that. Sorry. I hope your horse gets better.

nrhareiner · Member Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Ohio

I can think of a couple reasons he maybe doing that. One could be as simple or maybe not simple depends on how you look at it as a chip in the joint. I have seen this a few times on WP horses who get too big too fast. It is a simple sergery cost about $750/side. I know not really cheep but not as bad as some thing. Takes about 2-3 months recop and then they are normally fine and work well undersaddle.

The other could be EPM. This typically manifest itself in the rear and after time moves forward. Lack of musle tone draging the feet losing ballance and such are symptoms of EPM. This can be expensive to treat however if cought early the horse can rebound and be 100% but it is not something to put off as once the nerves are damaged there is no going back. Hope it is not EPM.

Could also be that the stifle is just fussing too. If this is the case it will just take time and he should be useful once it fusses.

However with out seeing what he is doing it is hard to say. These are just a couple of the things I have seen over the years couse some or all of the symptoms you discribed. In each casse I have seen it several times and each has slightly differnt symptoms.

Best bet would be to take him someplace that has the equipment to have him fully x rayed. Most vets do not have the equipment to x ray stifles so you will need to find a clinic or Unv that dose.

Heidi
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smokypocolena · Yearling Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 18

Thank you both for your replies. I live a couple of hourse form Jackson, MS and a really good equine vet, Dr. Vice is there and he has the facilites to x-ray and do surgery if needed. I did NOT have him vet checked before or after purchasing him (my own fault) I bought him from a friend of my uncles who raises and trains and shows barrel and cutting horses. I had no reason to believe there would be a problem. Since I am a novice, I did not know what to look for. What is WP and EPM?
Could it also be that maybe he was worked too hard too fast or too early? Makes me think the guy who bought him to begin with could have overworked him? Just speculation.
Unfortunately where I live, there are no good horse vets, but I may call the vets who are in my area and just get a first opinion.
His pedigree is: http://www.allbreedpedigree.com/smoky+poco+lena
is this common in his line?

smokypocolena · Yearling Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 18

I meant to add, the man I bought him from did offer to take him back and give me a full refund, but this horse has the sweetest disposition and my 13 yr old daughter has gotten so attached to him, he follows her around like a puppy! Also, since I do not have a trailer at this time, it was impossible for me to get him back to him. I paid a minimal price for him ($1,500) so even if he has to have surgery, I am still not out alot.
I shoudl have questioned why I was getting him so cheap, huh? It is a done deal now, so I am just going to try and move forward. I appreciate your replies.

nrhareiner · Member Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Ohio

WP is Western Pleasure. EPM is a for lack of a better work a desiese or better way to discribe it is a parasite that migrates into the horses spine and takes up residence there and caused never damage causing the horse to drag the rear legs loss of muscle tone weeknees lack of balance and so on. Everything you would expect from nerve damage. If you google EPM it will come up and you can get more info.

The fact he is so young and is having these problems is why I mentioned the chip first. If he was worked hard young that could be what it is or something simulare. Again he could just be fussing in that area too. Had a freind with a Dressage horse who fussed in his stifles and hacks and it too several years and he was lame off and on the entier time.

Heidi
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Double Eagle Performance Horses
"Where Performance Begins With Breeding"
Reining Prospects to finished horses for sale

one okie gal · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 11:32 am Post subject:

Do a google search for "horses + stifle problems". Quite a lot of information online for you to read. Aussie page on it looked quite informative to me.

Good luck and like one of those pages pointed out, even if you had a vet check prior to buying, if the vet did not ride or have the horse exercised while he watched then the vet probably wouldn't have seen it unless it was pretty severe.