Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Title: Re: [RC]   knuckling over--another plea for advice

That’s what I thought it was. My horse does this all the time. He’s gaited too. What I heard is that the patella locks up, something about the ligament that is supposed to lock the hock when they sleep standing up gets stuck. My horse feels like he is stepping in a hole in the rear, something like his leg locks up and he kind of drags it  for that step. I think is head comes up too as he kind of doesn’t have a leg to stand on for a second. But it never causes him to lose his balance really and we just continue on. I don’t think I’ve ever felt it at the trot or the canter, or even when he’s gaiting. Most likely at the walk when he’s not really working that hard.

Linda



On 10/12/05 7:21 PM, "Jeannie Gillen" <jeanniegillen@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Are we talking about a hitch in the patella?
> Gaited horses are known for that....but sometimes my old Arabs catch that
> hitch and it feels exactly like what you all are describing......we get
> through it and keep on going.....I don't think there is any damage and the
> vet said strengthening their muscles is about all you can do......BTW, I am
> at 4500 feet and ride up to 7000 so we are always climbing or going
> downhill......