Locking Stifle or Stringhalt?

I didn't get to ride this weekend because the weather turned to crap and I was too busy.  :(  Anyway I have a question for you.  The weird leg thing I mentioned last weekend when we moved the horses is back and it looks like locking stifle to me, but I haven't ever really dealt with it before.  So if you could please watch this video and tell me if you think it's locking stifle or stringhalt I would really appreciate it!!

I talked to my farrier and she thinks it's locking stifle, but she hasn't seen the video yet, so I'll update again when I talk to her, I just wanted to see what your opinion is too.  :)

I'm leaning toward locking stifle too because the videos I've seen of stringhalt they really pick their legs way up and do it several times.  He only does it once when he stands still.  Once he's walking he's fine.  It's only on his left hind leg too.  He's due for a trim so it may be partly the club hoof, but it's mostly because he's a couch potato and because he has straight hind legs (post legged)!

Anyway here is the video... sorry it's of him grazing.  My hubby is at work so I didn't have any help to walk him.


Here is the direct link if you can't view embedded videos:  http://youtu.be/DIvukM6xfOM

I cut out the long grazing parts where he was standing still.  So my farrier said if it is locking stifle I need to get him in shape!  I've been planning to start teaching him to longe anyway now that I have a flat place to work him since he's almost four I don't have to worry about his growth plates in his legs being damaged from working on circles too much.  Once he knows how to longe and knows the voice cues I'm going to switch to ground driving (double longeing) anyway so that will help too.  The whole five acre pasture here is flat so I'll have plenty of room to move him around.

She said the easiest way to get him in shape without overdoing it is to follow the human marathon training method called from Couch to 5k.  Check out this website for more information:  http://www.fromcouchto5k.com/articles/training/the-couch-to-5k-training-plan/  I like having a plan because I'm so paranoid about overdoing it.  Since I'll be starting out in hand (longeing, hand walking) I might just do it with him lol!  I used to run intervals and was actually in training for half marathons at one time so this could be the excuse I need to stick with it.... or if I'm feeling lazy I can longe lol!!  It's not fair to expect him to get in shape and not me though.  :D

A Plug & More Answers

I have so much I have to do today so just wanted to write a quick post.  First off I wanted to tell you about a blog I absolutely LOVE called Super Ponies (http://superponehs.blogspot.com)!  She's training her adorable young gelding who just turned three so a lot of what she does is relevant to me and Chrome.  She deserves way more followers than she has so go check it out.  :D  I promise you won't regret it!

I also wanted to answer some questions you guys have had.

Allison, I'm actually on the Paddock Paradise Facebook page already.  I think it's on Chrome's FB page under likes or something if you want to join in.  Also you asked if I was going to change the footing on the track, yep that's the plan.  I'm going to leave it as is just long enough to find out which spots are going to get muddy then I'll fill in with rock or pea gravel.  It will be a long work in progress, but I think it will be totally worth it.  :D

DS, thank you for the advice on the arena.  I do plan on doing dressage with Chrome, but no jumping.  His haunches, hooves and rear leg conformation are just not conducive to safe, healthy jumping.  I don't know if I will be able to fit a regulation sized dressage arena, but I'm going to make sure it's at least big enough for two side by side twenty meter circles.  My trainer's indoor arena is like that so you can do a twenty meter circle at both ends and one overlapping in the middle.  It works for her dressage lessons, but she uses the outdoor arena for shows because it's full sized.  :)

Anyway I gotta run, but I'm planning on going for a ride later so I'll try to get pictures/video for you guys!  Later!

Paddock Paradise

So how many of you have ever heard of paddock paradise??  Check out this website for more details http://paddockparadise.com/  I've been wanting to try it, but I didn't own the lease land so I couldn't.  Now that I have my own place I can do whatever I want.  The pasture is only 5.2 acres so I think it would increase the productivity of the land to set something up.  Here is a screenshot from Google Maps that shows my property.

The red line on the outside is the perimeter of the pasture (the yard is to the right and is another almost five acres, we have ten total).  The perimeter fence is hog wire/field fencing with a strand of electric tape along the top.  The blue will be interior fences made of portable electric tape.  The green lines are gates.  The part where the barn is (and where the new horse barn will be) is the dry lot.  They will stay there when it's too muddy to be out on the track.  The track is set up with wide corners where we will put hay, mineral/salt blocks, places to roll, toys, etc.  I haven't decided if I will fence off the pine trees or not.  The track is set up so they have to go to the end to get a drink and all the way back to the beginning for food.  It encourages movement which is so good for them.  We can cut hay on the open part where there aren't a lot of trees (and they can be let on there to graze or play).  I'm not sure what size the arena will be, but the fenced off part to the left of it is mostly trees so it will be for riding on or whatever.

So what do you think?  Have any of your tried a paddock paradise system?  Or know someone who does?  Any suggestions for making this one better?  I haven't started on it so it's simple to make changes lol.  Sorry if it doesn't make any sense.  If you have questions or I didn't explain something well enough, just let me know.  I have to run now.  Later!