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[RC] [RC] Upward Pateller Fixation - Lucy Chaplin TrumbullBarbara - I have a mare who had this problem. Alas, she has a different, unrelated lameness problem now, so I can't tell if she's cured, but this is what was recommended to me: First of all, get the horse comfortable again. Please don't try and push him through it. My vet recommended putting Surpass on the stifle to reduce inflammation and giving her some time off (she was sore to palpation and tried to kick the vet). In the mare's case, we tried estrogen shots (supposed to loosen up the ligaments as in a mare that is about to give birth) to help with the locking. Again, I can't tell if these helped. He also recommended a little wedge in her back shoes to help her with break over - so definitely check his back feet and make sure his toes are short. This problem can show up in an unfit horse who is asked to do too much too soon and doesn't have the quad development to cope with it. So really work those quads. Exercises that are supposed to help are things like walking over cavalettis. Walking uphill, I believe, is also supposed to be good. Some people do things like put poles around food or water stations/in the stall doorway so the horse is regularly required to step up over - this will help strengthen that area. Another thing I heard (anecdotal) was a lady who, while her horse was out, taught him to do spanish walk and (I think?) the rocking back on the hocks required to do this helped strengthen the area and the problem went away. My mare was x-rayed and the vet could see the notch in the bone that her stifle was getting hung up on. A popular surgery for this was to cut the ligament to release it, however my vet said this often results in arthritis later on, so isn't a great option. Instead, he likes to blister the ligament (internally), which serves to shorten it up a little and move the stifle to a slightly better location. Had my mare not gone lame in a different place, that was going to be the last thing I tried once I'd given her time off to reduce the inflammation, followed by careful work. HTHsAnyone have any experience with upward pateller fixation? I have an almost 5-year old Polish arab gelding who exhibits this by dragging his hind toes, and sort of "locking up." I've heard exercise is the first thing to try and I'm ponying him. He's getting started under saddle. A trainer (200 lbs) got on him on the other day and the poor horse didn't want to move! Lucy Chaplin Trumbull elsietee AT foothill DOT net Repotted english person in the Sierra foothills, CA * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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