Locking fetlock joint

[Vallonelee@aol.com]

I am writing this for a friend in an attempt to get her some help with her 
horse.  She has a 6-7 year old mustang mare that she has owned since the age 
of 18 months.  The mare has been well cared for since then with plenty of 
turn out in a pasture of a few acres.  The mare foaled 8 months ago and after 
separating the two, the owner began a program of LSD with the thought of 
attempting a LD at the end of the year.  The mare was used throughout her 
pregnancy and was ponied at the end to maintain light conditioning.  She was 
then ridden lightly while ponying the foal.

The problems started about a month ago when my friend took her mare from the 
stall to go for a ride.  The mare's right hindfoot was dragging.  I happened 
to witness this recently and it appears that the fetlock joint is locking 
after the hoof leaves the ground and is in its forward arc, causing the hoof 
to drop and the toe to drag into the ground.  She then picks the leg up very 
high and stiff in order to clear the ground with her hoof.  

She did have the horse evaluated by Gilbert Equine Hospital but, of course, 
the mare was not showing these symptoms when she was there.  They performed 
x-rays (of both legs for comparison) and felt the mare might have some type 
of muscle strain.  She was sent home with instructions for plenty of warm-up 
and cool-down.  Also to walk some gentle hills to strengthen the area.  

Just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced this and has any insight.

Thanks for your help. 

Lee and Boogie, Bravo and Kaci (who is featured on page 16 of the new Trail's 
End catalog - what a cutie).  


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