Advice/suggestions re hock problem

jojoebony

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16 yo TB been a bit off for the last month or so, back checked and he had rotated a vertabrae. He's not been ridden much lately due to loss of other horse. Came in last few nights walking funny behind, kind of like a horse with stringhalt. Walking out fine behind in morning but pottery in front (put this down to his age and history). Same again last night and tonight. This morning I also noticed he was very stiff when picking his front feet out. Tonight the hind leg thing was a lot worse. We trotted him up and his first stride on that back leg is BAD, kind of like you'd expect after a flexion test??? He doesn't look sore but something is definately wrong.
Anyone any thoughts?
I will be ringing the vet for advice in the morning and probably a visit but wondered if anyone had experienced anything similar.
A bit of background also:
he is an ex racer that I've known for 8 years. He came to me on loan 4 months ago. He's had a tough life:
raced until he was 8 and during this time was bar fired twice as a precautionary measure, then was turned away and left to rot basically, nearly severed a hoof a few years ago, came back from one loan home ready to be shot having been left tied to a five bar gate which he jumped and got suspended on, came back from last place skin and bone (from a supposedly reputable equine college).
Since he's come to me he's really come on well, he's a very healthy weight, his coat is gleaming and he'd stopped cribbing except when fed. He loves his work (although this hasn't been very regular lately). He has started cribbing again in the field recently but put this down to the loss of my other horse and his best mate.
Jo
 
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