Update on Sams Lunging/Too Much Knee Action

Huntseat123 · 08-04-2008, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the advice to everyone who helped! I free lunged him yesterday, then today lunged again, and he was an angel! I really think that more time and settling in the new place is all that he needed. I'm going out tomorrow to lunge with a saddle, then the next day I'll probably ride, so there will be pictures I'm sure!

I do have a small question though. Ever since Sam has been back in saddle from his injury, he has been showing a lot more knee action than usual. I'm sure its just because of the lack of muscle and work, but what type of exercises (while lunging and riding) will help with that?

I'm assuming circles and ground rails will help, so he trotted over two ground rails today while lunging.

WashingtonBay · 08-04-2008, 01:33 PM

Ground rails would tend to increase knee action, not discourage it.

But I don't live in a world where there is "too much knee action"... I ride Arabs.

JBandRio · 08-04-2008, 01:40 PM

Proper work over ground poles won't increase the horse's predisposition to having more (or less) knee/hock action. The work strengthens the quadriceps and the whole back end in general, and encourages the horse to look down and engage his stomach muscles to lift his back.

What was Sam's injury? How often was he trimmed during that time? In many cases, an increase in knee action is directly related to front toes being too long.

Huntseat123 · 08-04-2008, 03:24 PM

He tore his impar ligament (which is in his hoof) so while he was injured I kept up on a normal schedule with trimming to reduce the risk of hurting it more/reinjury. That ended up not helping either way though because he was off for about 7 months longer than he should have been. Personally, I think it may have been a misdiagnoses as I put all the peices togeather after the fact.

He is about two weeks over due for a trim, I missed his last appointment at the old barn (by accident) and didn't realize it until a week before we moved him to the new barn so I have him scheduled with the new barns farrier this week.

dotgotcalm · 08-08-2008, 06:00 AM

If he moved with a "flat knee" before his injury then it is likely either a long toe or a lack of muscle, maybe both. Getting him slowly back into shape will likely take care of it. I've seen all kinds of shoeing methods employed to try to flatten a horses knee action but none that I'd recommend or use myself. I have a HUS gelding now who's trot is fine when he's barefoot but put any kind of shoe on his front feet and his knees start flying up!

The thickness of the shoe is apparently enough to throw him completely off so, I just leave the front shoes off.

08-04-2008, 01:18 PM	#1
Huntseat123 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Highland, MI Posts: 6,784 Images: 464 Blog Entries: 5	Update on Sams Lunging/Too Much Knee Action Thanks for the advice to everyone who helped! I free lunged him yesterday, then today lunged again, and he was an angel! I really think that more time and settling in the new place is all that he needed. I'm going out tomorrow to lunge with a saddle, then the next day I'll probably ride, so there will be pictures I'm sure! I do have a small question though. Ever since Sam has been back in saddle from his injury, he has been showing a lot more knee action than usual. I'm sure its just because of the lack of muscle and work, but what type of exercises (while lunging and riding) will help with that? I'm assuming circles and ground rails will help, so he trotted over two ground rails today while lunging. __________________ Amidst a conversation about her past as an established equestrian, we drove by a wonderful barn filled with horses. I watched as she swiftly unrolled her window and took a deep breath through her nose, letting the sweet aroma fill her lungs. A true horsewoman, I thought. R.M. Photography

08-04-2008, 01:40 PM	#3
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,470 Images: 143 Blog Entries: 12	Proper work over ground poles won't increase the horse's predisposition to having more (or less) knee/hock action. The work strengthens the quadriceps and the whole back end in general, and encourages the horse to look down and engage his stomach muscles to lift his back. What was Sam's injury? How often was he trimmed during that time? In many cases, an increase in knee action is directly related to front toes being too long. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

08-04-2008, 03:24 PM	#4
Huntseat123 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Highland, MI Posts: 6,784 Images: 464 Blog Entries: 5	He tore his impar ligament (which is in his hoof) so while he was injured I kept up on a normal schedule with trimming to reduce the risk of hurting it more/reinjury. That ended up not helping either way though because he was off for about 7 months longer than he should have been. Personally, I think it may have been a misdiagnoses as I put all the peices togeather after the fact. He is about two weeks over due for a trim, I missed his last appointment at the old barn (by accident) and didn't realize it until a week before we moved him to the new barn so I have him scheduled with the new barns farrier this week. __________________ Amidst a conversation about her past as an established equestrian, we drove by a wonderful barn filled with horses. I watched as she swiftly unrolled her window and took a deep breath through her nose, letting the sweet aroma fill her lungs. A true horsewoman, I thought. R.M. Photography

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08-04-2008, 01:33 PM	#2
WashingtonBay Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tumwater, WA Posts: 1,003 Images: 98 Blog Entries: 2	Ground rails would tend to increase knee action, not discourage it. But I don't live in a world where there is "too much knee action"... I ride Arabs.

08-08-2008, 06:00 AM	#5
dotgotcalm Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 555 Images: 4	If he moved with a "flat knee" before his injury then it is likely either a long toe or a lack of muscle, maybe both. Getting him slowly back into shape will likely take care of it. I've seen all kinds of shoeing methods employed to try to flatten a horses knee action but none that I'd recommend or use myself. I have a HUS gelding now who's trot is fine when he's barefoot but put any kind of shoe on his front feet and his knees start flying up! The thickness of the shoe is apparently enough to throw him completely off so, I just leave the front shoes off.