Years ago I used ankle weights on a horse that needed stifle strengthening but I can’t remember how long I started hand walking for in the beginning and what I had worked up to. Would love to hear others thoughts!
Ankle weights on the hind legs? I’ve had some stifle issues and honestly this was never suggested by any of my vets or in all my posts on this forum. Ankle weights would not be my first choice to strengthen stifles. I would do some stifle and hind leg stretches, walk and trot over ground poles, walk and trot up some slight hills if you are able to incorporate this time of year, and possibly use of estrone, which is estrogen and given IM. I would start there first. What kind of horse and what discipline? Ankle weights are sort of an old school TWH or ASB type thing but usually they use them in front to encourage action. I do not use them at all myself.
Here are some good PT exercises:
https://thehorse.com/120817/physical-therapy-for-stifle-problems-in-horses-aaep-2011/
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Awwwww helllz to the NO…
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That’s a pretty good article to sum up how to handle a horse with stifle issues from a fitness standpoint. I’d follow that (I have already, basically).
I’m familiar with all the other exercises, blistering etc. I’ve had good success in the past with the ankle weights, I just can’t remember where I started and what I had worked up to. This was something that was recommenced to me by a vet at the time. Ultimately it encouraged the same movement the horse would make stepping over poles/raised poles.
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There’s a lot of wisdom on this board conditioning for stifle issues and not one of them I’ve read includes ankle weights. And FWIW… 5lbs is a lot of weight. I would be worried about further injury.
Regular bell boots would encourage to lift the foot higher, but you can accomplish that with poles or hand walking slowly over a couple of bales of hay.
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I’ve actually had a vet suggest light chain for stifle weakness. But not 5 lbs, more like 10-12 ozs. It did work for the horse but I felt it helped more with range of motion than actual weight training. But we also jogged horse up and down hills.
I think it’s more important to encourage lift with a step that’s underneath the horse than encouraging them to lift “up” and with a hollow back if you know what I mean. Hills and poles encourage them to lift their back and step more underneath themselves. I’m not so sure weights, especially a 5lb one would do that.
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From the conclusion of the study posted above:
The boots we used were not very heavy. Increased weighting will probably affect the movements further, but excessively heavy boots may also increase the risk of overstraining. Walking over ground is likely to bring about the same results as in the study, although there might be minor differences in the movement pattern compared to on the treadmill. Before the full effects of the weighted boots can be evaluated, further studies, over a longer period of time and perhaps with the use of electromyography, are required
I would also be concerned about injuries from the rodeo that might result from blithely attaching ten pounds of weight to the back legs.
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I believe this might be what you want: https://holistichorse.com/equine-therapy/muscle-atrophy-and-muscle-definition/
However, having a ‘stifle-y’ horse myself, I agree with others to be cautious about what you do and how you do it. I personally have not put weights on my horse, but I do use poles with one side raised and the other on the ground, as a proprioceptive exercise.
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