Conference noted::equitation

    Has he been reset recently? It is very important when fighting a
    problem such as this to not let the feet get to long or out of balance.
    I am curious about the degree change you mentioned as the front
    of a hoof runs anywhere from 40 to 55 degrees with the ground on
    a normal horse anything other than that range will generally cause
    lameness. Changing the angle by more than 2 degrees will take months
    of corrective shoing to prevent stress on the tendons. Stifles as
    I understand it is a pulled musule up in the stifle joint. This
    joint comes into play a great deal when going up hills or jumping.
    I have seen horses require up to a year of rest to really make them
    right after such an injury.
    
    Good luck,
    Sandy
    

    Hi Michelle,
    
    I have never had any experience with this problem personally, but I
    have heard that it is best not to do much circle work or tight turns.
    It seems that the lameness is not too prominent at the walk and trot,
    but more so at the canter and on circles or corners.  It would probably
    be best to keep him lightly exercised to avoid stiffness.  I don't
    think it is anything that completely goes away but can become less
    severe with the proper care.  Like any horse they all have their
    problems, we must either learn to live with them or move on to
    something more suitable and hope for the best.  Hope this helps.
    
                                   Good Luck
    
                                           Wendy
    
    
    
    

    Michelle,
    
    What did Dr. McGee say about the horses stifles?  He is the vet
    at the track where I keep my horse, and he will sometimes inject
    a horses stifles with cortisone so it can get inside the joint
    and work its way out.  My horse also has stifle problems, though
    I've never had him injected, I rub his stifles with Blue Lotion,
    which is just like Ben-Gay in humans.  Its pretty strong stuff,
    and can give them quite a bite when you apply it, but I was very
    happy with the results.  If you do use it, make sure you wear gloves,
    and put it on the front part of the stifle first, and try not to
    directly apply it to the inside of the stifle where there isn't
    much hair because that could tend to make him sore.  After a few
    days of use, you will notice some scurf, which will be some skin
    peeling off from the strength of the lotion, but its nothing to
    worry about.  Good luck.
    

    My horse is a harness race horse, so he is worked pretty hard
    during racing season.  I always bought blue lotion through
    someone who sold equipment at the track, but I have also seen
    it in catalogs.  You may want to call State Line Tack Shop
    in Plaistow NH, they may carry it, if not, they may know where
    you can get it.
    
    

    Michelle,
    
    My horse also had a serious stifle problem a few years ago.  I was
    given a program by my vet on how to bring him back -- we were given
    specific exercises (like lots of walk/trot/canter up/down steep
    hills -- the timing was based on the vet, the steepness of the hill
    and the gait) and also told what not to do -- dressage and tight
    circles were part of the taboos.  Anyway, working with my vet he
    came through just fine and we evented again in a shorter time frame
    than the vet had predicted.  However, I followed the regime to the
    letter, in good weather and bad, and never let up a day.  I obviously
    don't know if the problems are the same, but it seems to me that
    you should discuss the problem with your vet and get a program to
    get him back on track.  You may have inadvertently done harm or
    pushed too soon.
    
    Having been through a severe stifle problem, I know there's hope,
    so don't get discouraged.  I'll keep my fingers crossed for you
    and Cocoa.
    
    Dawn

    Hi,
    
    Are there any specific notes on the Stifle? I would
    appreciate any help.
    
    thanks,
    Deb

    A reply to my own note, since nobody mentioned it in any of the
    previous replies.  I've been told the stifle in the horse is
    comparable to the Patella or Knee(cap?) in humans.
    
    Now, I don't know which muscles are associated with this joint 
    and if there are, if they are also called 'Stifles' or 'Stifle
    muscles or tendons?
    
    I'm just trying to understand more about just what it IS and IS NOT.
    
    thanks
    Deb