What behaviour might he exhibit if he were having stifle problems, do you know?
Long story short: It's a sticky situation with him, as we were going to purchase but the original owner is a little shifty and the person from whom we're shareboarding never got a vet check. He's extremely reluctant to work above a walk, which was attributed to too much pasture time (spent about 3 months sitting around) but now that we're being pressured to buy him and not really given adequate time for a vet check I've more or less called it off. I actually never noticed how straight his hind legs are, but in comparison to other pictures I can definitely see it now.
I suspected he might have more than just a mental block toward work because he's otherwise easy-going.
I dont' know how to describe a lockign stifle/appearance, without pointing it out to you -I'd look it up. I'd say with him, it's inevitable. As muscled as he is, if you can keep him that muscled, it may be minimal.
I'd do some research into "locking stifle" online, there's so many good articles that describe it far better than I do.
What it is, is when the knee cap locks -"upward flexation of the patella" is the medical term. My mare has a locking stifle (and her legs aren't nearly that straight, but straighter than they should be)
I'd say...if you could have him vet checked, then have the vet tell you what to expect -or if you have a vet you could call, and ask, or even show that pic to, they could tell you more.
I just re-read your comment: You know where the patella is, right? (if not, just look it up) if he's reluctant to move at more than a walk, and especially if his back end seems "off" -even a little bit....buyer beware...
I have a 4 year old with a locking stifle problem and it seems to be getting a lot better with hill work and conditioning. She was a total failure at the track because of it.. wouldn't even canter more than a few strides, let alone gallop. But she's been improving a lot in the year I've had her. She used to buck quite frequently because of the discomfort but I just kept at it and now she rarely does it. She has the strength to gallop cross country now and jumps just fine.
It sounds like the sellers here are being a bit sketchy indeed so it's probably best to let this one go, but I just wanted to mention my experience so far with this problem.
Thank you for this response. I like to think that he would make a nice prospect for someone who had the time and experience to work with him through it, but I can't guarantee that I'll have time for that much reconditioning in addition to the training work he needs. If I can't promise it, I don't think it's fair to him to hold on and hope that I will.
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Long story short: It's a sticky situation with him, as we were going to purchase but the original owner is a little shifty and the person from whom we're shareboarding never got a vet check. He's extremely reluctant to work above a walk, which was attributed to too much pasture time (spent about 3 months sitting around) but now that we're being pressured to buy him and not really given adequate time for a vet check I've more or less called it off. I actually never noticed how straight his hind legs are, but in comparison to other pictures I can definitely see it now.
I suspected he might have more than just a mental block toward work because he's otherwise easy-going.
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I'd do some research into "locking stifle" online, there's so many good articles that describe it far better than I do.
What it is, is when the knee cap locks -"upward flexation of the patella" is the medical term.
My mare has a locking stifle (and her legs aren't nearly that straight, but straighter than they should be)
I'd say...if you could have him vet checked, then have the vet tell you what to expect -or if you have a vet you could call, and ask, or even show that pic to, they could tell you more.
Reply
You know where the patella is, right? (if not, just look it up) if he's reluctant to move at more than a walk, and especially if his back end seems "off" -even a little bit....buyer beware...
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It sounds like the sellers here are being a bit sketchy indeed so it's probably best to let this one go, but I just wanted to mention my experience so far with this problem.
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Thank you for this response. I like to think that he would make a nice prospect for someone who had the time and experience to work with him through it, but I can't guarantee that I'll have time for that much reconditioning in addition to the training work he needs. If I can't promise it, I don't think it's fair to him to hold on and hope that I will.
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