Re: RC: fusing hocks

[Tivers@aol.com]

In a message dated 9/6/00 9:17:31 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
DESERTRYDR1@aol.com writes:

<< Has anyone had a horse that the hocks fused, either naturally or 
 artificially, that went on to do endurance successfully?  (I would have 
liked 
 to do 50's on her for completions, middle of the pack stuff)  She does not 
 seem to be in pain, but sometimes (after a turnout where she ran a lot) has 
 puffiness across the front of the hock.  She runs and bucks and does 
 turn-on-the-haunches with the front end in the air at each end of the arena 
 when she is turned out to play.   Has anyone had a horse with this 
diagnosis? 
  How long did it take for the joints to fuse?  Was the horse in a lot of 
 pain?  I just don't know what to expect.  
 
 jeri and fog (airborne) >>


You've been pretty damned smart with this horse. Smarter than your vets. The 
hocks of all horses fuse, and yours should have done that by now. I suspect 
stifle rather than hock at this point. However, one quick way to find 
out--the cortisone injection in the hock. The hock is one joint that won't be 
destroyed by corticosteroid injections. If this solves the problem, 
temporarily, you at least know the origin.

I don't think it will though. My first guess is that you might have brought 
her along a little too fast and that the ligaments in the stifle are hot and 
swollen. 

Eliminate the hock possibility. If the problem persists, cut the exercise 
load back, particularly the intensity, and work your way back up the ladder 
gradually. But I'd keep her moving, every day, as long as she's not too lame 
to do so. Keep those ligaments loose and encourage them to strengthen.

Report back. This will be interesting.

ti