Re: RC: RE: advice needed re: stifles

[Tivers@aol.com]

Stifles take time. While it is true that exercise designed to target them can 
strengthen them, that is also the kind of exercise that injures them. In 
racehorses, stifles are one of the early warning systems--warning of "too 
fast, too soon". If you inject the stifles in order to do on with the horse, 
then the next problem is going to be a tendon, ankle or knee. 

In general, you can consider a progressively loaded exercise regime that is 
twice as long as the "time off" to be adequate in bringing the animal back to 
competitive fitness. Any regime which introduces any stressor too quickly, or 
suddenly, is bound to cause injury.  

A "loose" stifle is evidence of a general lack of fitness. Rather than target 
the stifle with an aggressive exercise protocol, it's best just to bring the 
animal fit gradually. The stifle will tighten with fitness and the rest of 
the body will toughen as well. But all this takes time, miles, heartbeats. 

ti


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