Should I be worried? Legs giving out on my mare?

I have noticed that my mare's right hind leg seems to buckle and give out on her. She hasn't fallen (although it leads to a very noticeable "jerk" back), and it hasn't been a problem, but I'm still worried. I've only witnessed it happening while I was riding her, but that's not to say it doesn't happen in the pasture (and no, I'm not too heavy for her, I weigh a whopping 115). It seems to happen more often after a hard workout, and more often on rocky or difficult terrain, although it has happened in the arena too. She's been off of regular work for probably a year, so I'm wondering if I'm working her too hard and she just weak? She's approximately 8, she doesn't wear any sort of boots or wraps, she's barefoot. She's had every vaccine available (with weeks in between, obviously) because I'm paranoid. She gets turned out all day, stalled at night. That's all the relevant info I can think of. I'm going to call the vet, but I just wanted to know if anyone's experienced something like this

Should I be worried? Legs giving out on my mare?
That sounds like it may be her stifle. My guy's a racking horse, close cousin of those gorgeous Walkers. For some reason a sticking stifle is not that uncommon in the gaited horses, or so my vet commented once. He said it may/may not have something to do with how they carry themselves when they gait, as many of their innate gaits are executed in a fairly moderate to severe ventroflexed frame. Stifle problems aren't that uncommon in many horses.





My guy's stifle, when I first go him, would stick all the time. To the point where his hind-end woud buckle under or feel like it just fell out from under me. He'd do exactly as you've described in your mare and it has nothing to do with your size! The jerk back you're feeling may be the patella getting caught in a momentary-lock, which is what happens when the stifle doesn't slide smoothly over the joint. This can also lead to the feeling of their hind-end is buckling beneath them, especially during transitions or on challenging terrain.





The best thing you can do, and this I learned after the vet came out and did a lameness exam for me a few years ago, is start working ground poles. No less than 4 in a row or its no good and many, many repetitions. Getting her to round and start using her back appropriately, in-hand (easier at first) and in saddle will also go a long way. As you strengthen the muscles surrounding the stifle joint, over time, you will see a significant improvement. The number one thing you can do, assuming she does have a stifle issues, which is really sounds like she does from your description, is to work hills.





Now I live in a part of coastal Va. that doesn't have them, go figure, and we built a little one just for Dobbin. I work it forwards and backwards (backing up) and have done so, along with gound and raised poles as part of our routine for a few years now and Dobbin is like a new horse. Someone on here told me it's actually best to work long climbs, and the climb doesn't have to be steep. If you have those, start there. Nice and easy, walking is all you need.





Also, horses with locking stifles need regular work; the more often you work them (not so much about how vigorous the work is, but the frequency of exercise), the better because it strengthens the muscles supporting the joint. I know that may seem counterintuitive, but its true. The fact that she hasn't been in regular work and now you're working her, it doesn't surprise me that you ae seeing this buckling and sticking crop up. She needs to get stronger. Should she ever get really stuck and act like her leg is paralyzed (yeah, that happened to me, and I about had a stroke bc I thought it was neuro), back her up from the ground - as many steps as it takes; it unlocks the stifle. One last thing...I learned a trick about lifting the leg and rotating the joint in such a way that promotes the stifle from wanting to stick. I do this six times on each back leg after I pick hooves and before I ride. I also massage the area. I'm not sure I can describe the leg physical therapy, but email if you want and I'll try :)





May not be the stifle, but if it is, this is everything I've learned 1st hand. Will try to find some links for you to look at...





ADD: I read your notes about her cannon bone...she may have damaged alot more than what I'm referring to here. That whole area is pretty complicated, but that doesn't mean the issue is. You'll feel better once the vet comes. I know I did.
Reply:Sounds to me like it's a hock problem. You might benefit from calling a chiropractor too (besides the vet) because it might be something as simple as she's a little out of whack and needs an adjustment.
Reply:you are doing the right thing to get the vet out.. I havent experienced this on a horse.. but it actually happens to me..of course it never happens when I see the doc....
Reply:What breed of horse is she? If she is a Quarter horse she could have HYPP. Here is some more info about it.


http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/hypp...


http://www.horses-and-horse-information....





I hope this helps and God bless!
Reply:In answer to your question, yes you should be worried. This is not normal walking behaviour to have it happen everyday and maybe 3 or 3 times a day. It is difficult for any of us to guess what is wrong with the mare, but I am sure that your vet is capable of finding out the problem...good luck with it.
Reply:Soft tissue injuries take a very long time to heal. Also she may have some nerve damage from the initial injury. You need to have a vet re evaluate her. I would not allow this state of "disrepair" to continue on without some medial attention for her. I would only allow her turnout in a small area until you can get this situation resolved. In her desparate attempt to free herself she may well have endured a pulled muscle up in the stife area/ inside hip area. I dealt with this kind of injury last summer. Took my horse about 6 weeks to get over this.





Initially my vet thought my horse may have broken the "head" or ball of the joint where it met his pelvic area.... or, a pelvic fracture, so we had to rule those out with a pelvic exam.





In the interim you can do massage therapy, pulse therapy, and accupuncture over the injured area. This should make her a little more comfortable.



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