Ridecamp: [RC] Stifle Problems

First and foremost my mare and I are newbies to the
sport of distance riding.  We have already completed
one CTR event and did very well.  
We train with an endurance rider who also has a 6yo
Arab. We usually ride together every weekend on trails
that provide our horses hill work and different riding
locales.  We have been working on conditioning our 6
year olds for approximately 6 months now.
We do moderate hill work type of training rides and no
problems.  The CTR ride was very sandy and had some
good hills, again no problem.
About two weeks ago we had a training ride that
involved steeper hills.  Her horse had been there
before but it was a first for my mare.  We rode for
2-3 hours as normal, had lunch and went out again for
a short ride on another trail.  On our way back we had
to go up some very steep hills.  This time my mare
felt quite strung out and wasn't pushing herself up
the hill like I'm used to feeling her with.  She made
it but she was tired.
She is boarded with limited pasture turn out and I
visit and exercise her as often as I can with home,
kids, husband.  She does stock up some which goes away
quickly with exercise.  Following the above trail ride
it was difficult to see her that week.  She acted
stiff and one night I briefly lunged her and
discovered she was "gimping" with her right rear, yet
was not lame.  Had my friend check this too and all
agree that this is a stifle problem.  Went on vacation
for a week and had her handwalked a couple times by
friend.  She is still gimping with her right rear but
not as bad I suppose.  Definitely will not pass any
vet check-ins.  
Off from work I watched her in her turnout herd of 4
horses.  Herd was basically quiet but then my mare
decided to play.  She raced by herself about the
pasture and tried to entice the others with bucking,
kicking in place and on the fly as well.  
Its been suggested that she be locked up in her stall
until she's better.  As little as she's turned out I
don't feel this is a good idea.  I feel some movement
ought to be helpful.  She is being handwalked for
exercise that includes some hillwork as the stable's
driveway goes down across a creek and back up to a
main road.  At the walk she's OK except when going
downhill...then she uses her right rear leg but
quickly passes weight to her left rear as she moves
downhill.  
She has fairly straight rear legs and is kinda weak in
the hindquarters.  Previous hill work has definitely
strengthened her no doubt.  Now I'm not sure what to
do.  
I've searched RC archives and come up with the
following bits of information followed by my comments:
1.  ...exercise is important and that should be on the
flat at the walk, but I don't know why this would
happen and thought I had been doing lots of LSD to
strengthen him. 
Does this mean I should not lead her down/up the
driveway to cross the creek...that we should stay
completely on the flat until she's better?  As the
snippet above stated, we had been doing lots of LSD.
2.   ...it is easy for a horse, especially one who
is straight legged, to slip a ligament out of
place. Backing up is a common cure to pop those
ligaments back into place.  This is sometimes called
upward or lateral displacement of the patella.
Temporary trailers and lots of cavaletti and hill work
can improve the situation. 
Well, we have been doing lots of hill work.  Is it OK
to handwalk her over ground poles during her down time
to heal?
3.  Here's another one that suggests ground poles:
...we have had a few clients experience some problems
with stifles locking up and have had good luck putting
out poles around the pasture...horse was so bad, she
would lock up and couldn't move at all.  The vet
suggested trying this.  It worked and is absolutely
fine now.  Keeping the surrounding muscles toned is
key to stability.  By proper conditioning, a lot of
trots uphill, and over cavaletti, he is able to
stabilize his stifle.
At a CTR ride it was suggested I get my mare to WALK
uphill rather than trot as that allowed her to work
harder and condition better.  Any thoughts on this
regarding walking or trotting uphills?  
FINALLY--How long can I expect her to be down?  I
know, it all depends on individual horses.  Do you
think it's OK to allow her out with the herd or should
she remain locked up?  I am assuming handwalking her
on the flat is OK...but what about a small hill at the
stable so we can go down the driveway to walk along
roads?  Are ground poles OK?  OR should I NOT do
anything with her until she's completely well?  
Any advice greatly appreciated...apologize for the
length of the post.
Val




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