Locking stifle, exercise immediately or just turnout

[Myta]

I have a 2yo Welsh who suddenly presented with a locked stifle last night. Backing her up a few steps got it unlocked and we could walk forward again, but when she stopped it would lock again rather quickly. We’ve had 9.5" of rain this week and I’ve read that deep footing can cause the joint to be less stable, so the mud mixed with her rather upright hind end would explain the sudden presentation. I’ve had another 2yo with a locking stifle years back and remember the basics of more exercise, pony her out, hand walk, backing, ground poles, and bute in the short term after a bad lock to help with inflammation. For the most part they just outgrow it. What I don’t remember is, day of, when we are dragging a hind leg every time we stop for 30 seconds, or next day, is it better to hand walk her quite a bit, or just turn her back out in the pasture with some bute and start hand walking and ponying more after the inflammation has had a chance to go down?

I moved to a new area about 1.5 years ago and don’t really have a relationship with a vet over here. We’ve luckily only had the routine visits where techs come out and draw blood or give shots and I think I’ve spent a grand total of 1 minute talking with my vet (thank you horses, really, I’m not complaining that no one has had a major injury). So I’m not really in that position where I can call up my vet and ask, and I’d rather not take half a day off of work and $100-200 to schedule a visit for a vet to tell me to hand walk her today or start in 3 days. She is pastured full time, 4 acres, but it’s quite flat. She ponies very well off of either of my older horses. Normally, this is a youngster who gallops around the field a few times a day, spins, weaves, bucks, rears, she’s not a park it at the round bale kind of girl. I work from home and today I have heard no galloping; anytime I go out and check on them she’s standing, but when I ask her to walk forward she does so without dragging that leg. Her lack of running would imply to me she is sore. Everything I can seem to find on locking stifles is more to do with long term muscle building and less on the immediate short term. So while the long term goal is exercise her more, I just don’t know when to start that exercise regimen. (While the pasture around the round bale and water trough are quite muddy, the front drive is plenty firm and dry).

[JB]

As little stalling as possible, as much free choice movement as possible. Bute isn’t necessary, it rarely causes discomfort, but if you feel it is, then a vet should take a look sooner rather than later to make sure there’s not something else going on.

At 2, it’s fine to also add in some structured exercise to strengthen her quads. Hand walking at a good march, any hills you can find (I realize all the rain likely doesn’t allow that right now), poles and then elevated poles, working up to backing which needs to be done properly, head lowered, diagonal gait, and making sure toes are kept short.

And definitely, once footing improves, ponying her at a walk and trot would be very beneficial. Just keep in mind how butt-high she is, as a big enough difference can make forced work a bit uncomfortable due to being so out of balance.

She’s butt-high, so in a growth spurt, which is likely what caused this to suddenly come on. As she levels out it’s almost guaranteed to improve and even disappear as suddenly as it came on.