Upward Fixation of the Patella (mild)

[Dune]

[QUOTE=LarkspurCO;8470852]
As long as you are sensible about it (stick to areas with familiar footing and avoid hard crusty snow) there is nothing wrong with walking in deep snow. I am talking 12 inches up to 18 inches deep. Horse must pick up his feet. Like any exercise you adapt it to your horse’s level of fitness and don’t overdo it.

My horse is rehabbing from a suspensory tear and this has been a good, safe workout for him.[/QUOTE]

Seriously? My vet would hand me my head on a platter if I rehabbed a suspensory in that deep footing! I’ve always been told NO deeper than 3 inches, and even then it had better be “good” footing. Glad it’s working for you, but yikes!

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Dune;8471601]
Seriously? My vet would hand me my head on a platter if I rehabbed a suspensory in that deep footing! I’ve always been told NO deeper than 3 inches, and even then it had better be “good” footing. Glad it’s working for you, but yikes![/QUOTE]

Well, a suspensory is different than a stifle. I wouldn’t rehab a suspensory in anything but immaculate footing… a stifle is a little less picky. I see now that your response was in response to another poster’s supensory rehab… maybe they are a little further along than you, or maybe less severe… We’ve never taken extra precautions in the snow with my horse with a suspensory injury, and it never bothered him working in deep snow… (he’s a retiree now)

Walking in snow is not a horrible horse-killing exercise. Horses are perfectly fine managing snow as long as you take the time to load their limbs appropriately.

[JB]

Larkspur is rehabbing a suspensory in deep snow - that’s what Dune is questioning

It’s true that deep snow is not really anything like deep sand/arena footing/mud/muck. Deep footing of the latter variety is a big no-no for suspensories because of how long it keeps the foot on the ground as the leg moves forward. Deep snow forces a pretty different action, especially if it’s fluffier - I wouldn’t put a suspensory horse in 6" of wet, slushy heavy snow.

[LarkspurCO]

I wouldn’t characterize what I am doing as “rehabbing a suspensory in deep snow.” :lol: It’s not like I just pulled him out directly of a stall and started drilling him through difficult footing.

He’s fairly far along in the rehab process and had been working under saddle for more than two months, including 20 minutes of trotting and beginning canter work, before doing some short walks in the snow. I am talking about short and controlled walks in nice snow after a long warm-up and in addition to his other work to build strength. Not every day and not enough to strain anything. I was told to start working him over ground poles but I had nowhere to put them at home, and I’m not at liberty to set them up in the arenas where we haul out to ride.

Riding in nice snow is NOTHING at all like riding in deep sand or dirt or mud. And the vet was fine with it. His was a moderate front suspensory branch injury, treated with stem cells. I have been very diligent and careful about his rehab.

But feel free to be horrified.

[JB]

Well, when you only say “My horse is rehabbing from a suspensory tear and this has been a good, safe workout for him.” that seems to be pretty straightforward

[LarkspurCO]

Well, yes it has been a good workout. Now that I’ve provided further details and context, if anyone is horrified by that then they can continue to feel that way. Because this is America!

[FatCatFarm]

My daughter’s older (15 y/o), uber fancy, small Welsh pony would get sticky/locking stifles when he wasn’t kept in regular work. Estrone helped but the best thing was getting him back into shape and keeping him ridden. Just turned out in the pasture, and we have hills, was not sufficient, and any time he spent in the stall only made it worse.

Yes, avoid 20 meter circles - some are okay but don’t drill them. Cavaletti and hills are a great help too. But mainly, ride your horse and the condition should self-correct.