Stuck Patella?

[Buckpoco]

Last night was pouring rain and Bogie has a little thrush, so we decided to put both boys in for the night. Today, both had their patellas stick a few times.

It never happens when they are in the run-in sheds, just when they are stalled.
I had them on CetylM for a while as someone had recommended it for stuck patellas, but it got too darn expensive.

We've only had walkers for 4 years...is this common with them?

Their patellas never stick for long, but hubby amost got bopped in the face when Bogie unstuck his.

[WashingtonBay]

It's common enough with horses who are fairly straight through the stifle.

Are they underweight? Also can happen if they're thin or out of condition... simply put, the locking tendon that locks the stifle so they can stand and doze is stronger than the muscle needed to free it. Solution is make the muscle stronger. My hubby's mare Cyn had this happen sometimes when we got her, thin and out of shape. She came from a place with little or no turnout and really just needed to learn to move correctly. Other exercises include walking over tall cavalettis, logs, walking up and down hill.

If it becomes a problem they can't condition out of, or happens while riding, there is a surgical procedure that can snip one of the locking tendons.

[Buckpoco]

WB... not thin at all. Since I broke my arm I'm not riding but hubby lunges them. I know it gets better with more work, but since I'm laid up right now, that can't happen. They are outside in their paddocks 24/7 except when they are out to pasture, about 6 hours per day. So they always can move around.
I just thought it's odd...I've had lots of horses over the years who got maybe less work and were stalled more. But these two walkers...just wondered if it was something with walkers.

[RipSpark]

The pony I leased had that problem. Usually when you first got him out, or on rare occasions when you were riding. It wasn't too bad though and didn't seem to affect him. He was worked regularly and his weight was great(maybe a little tubby). We spoke to the vet about it, but I don't think they ever said to do anything. Did give the option of surgery if it was really bad.

[WashingtonBay]

I haven't heard it's something specifically common in Walkers, but I don't know. It does have everything to do with the angle of the stifle. If they loosen out of it when they're not stalled, it's probably not a problem, except look out if they kick to clear it! It doesn't not hurt them when it's locked.

[Buckpoco]

I haven't heard it's something specifically common in Walkers, but I don't know. It does have everything to do with the angle of the stifle. If they loosen out of it when they're not stalled, it's probably not a problem, except look out if they kick to clear it! It doesn't not hurt them when it's locked.

I hadn't heard of it in walkers either, but it's weird that both of ours have that problem. Also, they stood in the trailer, all the way to Florida and were stalled at night...no stuck patellas. Anyway, it doesn't seem to bother them... we just have to duck, LOL!

[pasolover2]

It is something that happens in walkers a lot, my sis had a spotted walker gelding years ago who would lock up like that and he was out 24/7, would lock up if left in a stall too long. Her vet told her to back him up when locked, many times backing one up will help unlock them. Her walker got to he point though, even turned out, he would lock up unexpectedly so they had the surgery done on hers. It is more common in walkers than many think, you just don't hear about it a lot.

[Buckpoco]

It is something that happens in walkers a lot, my sis had a spotted walker gelding years ago who would lock up like that and he was out 24/7, would lock up if left in a stall too long. Her vet told her to back him up when locked, many times backing one up will help unlock them. Her walker got to he point though, even turned out, he would lock up unexpectedly so they had the surgery done on hers. It is more common in walkers than many think, you just don't hear about it a lot.

Thanks Paso...I wondered as it was odd both walkers had the issue. Fortunately it doesn't happen often, but both horses had theirs stick yesterday, after being stalled. Bogie we've had 4 years and Dice 2...doesn't seem to be an issue...just happens now and then.

[Gliderider]

I have had Walkers my whole life and been around friends Walkers and I have never seen one do that. I did have a half starved pony last spring that had that problem. It went away once he got healthy he wasn't gaited though. I have heard of it in Walkers I just never have had it happen or seen it personally. My farrier had a client that had the surgery done on his gelding awhile back. His horse recovered well and is back on the trails. I know after the surgery they can't stand and sleep.

[pasolover2]

The walkers hubby and I have owned over the years have never locked up on us and so far, knock on wood, the two we have now haven't. My sis and her husband has always had walkers and that gelding was the first one they had to do that and he ended up having to have the surgery done. Until that happened to her walker we never knew anything like that happened, then when she called the vet out he told her it was something that did happen to walkers. We live in TN, walking horse state. lol

[Equine_Woman]

More exercise generally fixes it. . . the more fit the horse, the less chance of a fixated patella. Sonora has it really bad and I'm about at my wits in. She's probably going to get it surgically fixed this year. . .but I'm going to try one more time to get her in good enough shape that it goes away. It really interferes with her ability to perform athletically. At least yours only happens when they've been stalled! (Sonora is really bad if she is stalled)

[Buckpoco]

I know ours are better when fit...but we just got back last week from Brookfield where they were ridden every day (at that point I didn't know my arm was broken.) I guess they'll just stick once in a while...last night they were stalled also (severe thunderstorms predicted...but of course it didn't storm at all) and today they aren't stuck...so far anyway.
I can't ride for a few months so we have to settle for round penning, lungeing and hubby getting on now an then, but with his disabilities I won't let him go out by himself. Oh well...

Dice is just 5...maybe he's going through a growing spurt? Bogie is 7 but has terrible conformation which probably accounts for him sticking. Who knows?

[Buckpoco]

More exercise generally fixes it. . . the more fit the horse, the less chance of a fixated patella. Sonora has it really bad and I'm about at my wits in. She's probably going to get it surgically fixed this year. . .but I'm going to try one more time to get her in good enough shape that it goes away. It really interferes with her ability to perform athletically. At least yours only happens when they've been stalled! (Sonora is really bad if she is stalled)

I'm so sorry EW...I did read that CetylM helped...but it got too expensive with both horses on it. I don't think anyone's patella stuck while they were on it. I hope you don't need the surgery on Sonora.

[Equine_Woman]

Thanks. She is 7 this year and has never really worked out of it. IT was a real issue while she was in training. I've about had it. . . so it'll be the next step!

[WashingtonBay]

I haven't heard of any bad effects of doing the surgery for people who have needed it, have you? The way it was described to me it's a pretty simple snip job. I've even heard they can sometimes just cut one of the two tendons involved so the horse can even still sleep standing up if they want.

[Equine_Woman]

I haven't heard of any bad effects of doing the surgery for people who have needed it, have you? The way it was described to me it's a pretty simple snip job. I've even heard they can sometimes just cut one of the two tendons involved so the horse can even still sleep standing up if they want.

I'm afraid of arthritis later in life but realistically the constant fixation is going to cause it anyways. . .

[Buckpoco]

I'm afraid of arthritis later in life but realistically the constant fixation is going to cause it anyways. . .

That's the same thing I heard.:(