Stifle Boot Camp

Does your horse’s hind end seem to “slip out” from under him frequently? Do you experience consistent grumpiness, bucking or kicking out during the canter or even the trot? Your equine partner may be experiencing stifle pain or even anticipated stifle pain! Any horse can develop stifle related issues, but some breeds may even seem more prone to it than others. Riding discipline can also play a factor in the development of stifle issues and injury.

So what’s a human to do? While a veterinary visit is recommended to ensure proper diagnosis, there is also good news regarding a non-invasive therapy regiment that you can discuss with your vet and try if he/she gives the thumbs up. Depending on their diagnosis and the severity of the issue, they may prefer treatment plus this therapy or they may request therapy first to see if there is improvement before any other procedures. However, vet recommendation is best before starting any of these therapy steps. I will also state up front, this therapy requires frequent owner/handler interaction…so be prepared to ensure that you or a qualified second in command can work with your horse multiple times per week. This therapy will be performed 3-4 times per week and last for up to 8 weeks. Again, your veterinarian’s thumbs up should always be provided before starting any therapy program.

So where to start? Before any stretches, muscle warm up is vital. NEVER stretch a cold muscle!!! I see this frequently, and try not to yell, “EEK!” The good news, warming up cold muscles is performed at a walk, whether in the saddle or hand-walking. Good for the horse and good for riders as well. It not only warms up muscles, but also provides a chance to connect more with your horse while doing it. For this therapy, hand-walking is recommended until improvement is noticed and a veterinary “thumbs up” for riding is provided. ”

In the beginning…there was walking:

1. The goal - hand walk with a purpose, meaning, get their "engine,” moving. Not like our bottoms are on fire, but moving with a point. This should be completed for a solid 5-10 minutes.

a. Incorporate walking up and down hills…no mountain climbing!

b. Walking initially in 5 meter circles (circles averaging ~16 feet in total radius) can help.

*This helps that hind limb and impacted stifle to be placed underneath and inward under the horse to engage the stifle/patella.

Let the Stretching Begin:

2. Now that your horse is warmed up, find a quiet and safe place to perform the stretching part of the therapy. Enlisting a partner in crime initially is advised to hold your horse until they become accustomed to the stretches. If they tie or cross-tie well, then transitioning them can be accomplished. SAFETY FIRST…ALWAYS!!!

Our initial stretch will provide flexion of the hip and stifle area.

a. Start by safely picking up the hind limb as if you were going to clean the hoof, gently holding the cannon bone and pastern with your hands and lifting the leg directly upward and holding for 15-30 seconds. ONLY go as far as the horse will allow and ONLY until you feel tension telling you “go no further”. No crazy yoga moves. Initially the horse’s range on any of these stretches will be limited. The more this is done over the sessions, the more improved the range of motion will become and the 30 second application will be able to be accomplished. So don’t fret if the horse is limited initially.

b. Put your hind limb in (insert “hokey pokey” lyrics here) – Pick up the hind limb as if you’re picking up the hoof, and once you have it, gently and SLOWLY pull (flex) the limb forward holding the hoof low to the ground until you feel tension. Do NOT stretch any further!

c. Put your hind limb out (but no “shaking it all about!”) – If you’re able, and your horse is willing, you can keep hold of the hind limb and gently work it backward moving your holding point to a supportive hold cradling below the hock. If the horse prefers a rest in between stretches, allow it, then simply pick up the hind limb as if you’re picking up the hoof, and once you have it, supportively cradle below the hock, gently and SLOWLY pull the limb backward until you feel tension – no further. The range of motion goal of this stretch is to stretch the leg past the tail – the horse may need to work up to this range over a few sessions, they may even get to the point where they finish the stretch for you.

d. Remember those circles you incorporated into your walking warm up? This stretch mimics this action. Pick up the hind limb as if you’re picking up the hoof, and once you have it, holding the hoof low to the ground, gently and SLOWLY stretch the hind limb toward the midline of the horse’s midsection. Once you feel tension…don’t go any further.

e. Tail pulling…say what? My mother said we shouldn’t pull others’ hair! I often see people pulling the tail from behind the horse. NOT recommended! Many factors can yield performing it incorrectly and actually resulting in injury to the horse and a safety issue to the human. Lateral tail pulls are safer for all. From the side of the horse, midway down the tail, gently wrap the tail hair around your hand (if on the left side of the horse, use your right hand, if on the right side, use your left). Gently pull the tail to the side – no yanking! The action should require the horse to want to rebalance off their hind leg and engage the stifle. Safely move around to the other side of the horse and repeat the action. Perform this move 6 times per side, alternating sides each time, keeping your hand on the horse at all times while transitioning from side to side! Yes, you’ll feel like a ping pong ball, and your horse may think you’ve lost it at first, but persevere.

f. The balancing act: I often think of this as the one-legged pirate move…even though the horse will be using 3 of their legs to balance. This next stretch incorporates balance, requiring the horse to hold their hind leg and stifle steady. Pick up the hind leg and hold it for 15-30 seconds. The goal is to engage the hip, hind end, and stifle area, but not hold it so high that it is difficult for the horse to balance. This may take some "getting used to" by the horse. There is a good chance that they will need to build up to holding it for 30 seconds, be patient. Try 5-10 seconds initially, building from there. We are not flexion testing, be gentle picking up the leg and placing it back down on the ground.

Walk It Out:

3. I recommend up to five minutes of hand-walking after these stretches to help move any lactic acid build up. Again, no sprinting, but no sauntering either – walk with a purpose. A nice hand graze can be a reward after this final step.

*The above reference nor Equine Sports Massage Therapy is NOT a substitute for veterinary care! If your horse does not improve or if you suspect injury, please contact your veterinarian immediately. These exercises and stretches are meant to support recovery only. If under veterinary advisement for recovery from injury, please wait for approval from your veterinarian before riding. A light hack can be incorporated in place of the final hand walk in this series if permitted by your veterinarian.

Happy Horsing!

- Susan