Re: RC: Hocks

["Kerry Redente" <kerry.redente@po.state.ct.us>]

Hi Julia,

I going through the same thing right now with my 3 year old colt.  My colt doesn't come up consistently lame but there is definitely something going on with him.  So days his movement is free and flowing and other days he looks stiff and constricted.  Other times after I have warmed him up he's fine.  I had the vet do a lameness test on him (flex test), he found my colt to be sore in his right hock.  
The next step that we have to take is to x-ray the hock and see what the problem is.  From there the vet will determine treatment, he did mention injecting the hock.  This is something I know nothing about.  I was curious what your vet said about treatment for your horse.  How is your horse's movement?  You mention he/she is not lame, but what is happening?

My colt has two things going on with his movement.  The first is when he jogs slow, the right front leg short strides.  This can only be seen when he is jogging, not at the trot or the walk.  His right hind leg tracks to the outside of the front foot.  Almost like he's swinging it around instead of flexing underneath.  He is willing to pick up his leads but rather bare more weight on his left hind.  He also has more muscle development on the left shoulder than the right.  My farrier said he wears his hind feet on the inside more than the outside and his front feet aren't even, he is slightly off in the heel length.

Are you having any problems like these?  This problem has been going on for some time now.  I had him checked by another vet and he thought it was his right knee, x-rayed the knee and no problems.  I had him worked on by a chiropractor and had message therapy done on him.  Improved a lot but something is still not right.  My main worry is that some vets think injecting a joint will solve the problem, isn't it just covering it up and only a temporary solution?

Please let me know what your vet finds and we can compare notes, especially if your horse is showing the same symptoms as mine.  I'm having my vet do the x-rays on May 15th.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Kerry Redente
East Longmeadow, MA

>>> "Julia Thom" <thomlabs@netbistro.com> 05/08 1:22 PM >>>
I wrote a few weeks ago and I was sure that my
mare had a stifle injury, I had the vet out and he
feels it is her right hock.    I have never had a horse
with this type of injury.

My vet said the only way to know for sure is a x-ray
or nerve block.  The nerve block can only be done
if she is lame, which she is not.

Any comments on hock injuries would be appreciated.

Thanks
Julia


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