'BAD ATTITUDE' could be due to hock pain.

[PeterNatt]

A 'Bad Attitude' to excercise may actually be due to undiagnosed and untreated hock pain according to research funded by The Horse Trust it was reported in the publication 'Horse Health'. August 2007 issue.

"Osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints better known as bone spavin is the most common cause of hind limb lameness in horses. It effect ranges from from mild to severe and incapacitating and although X-rays can facilitate diagnosis, subtle lesions can be difficult to detect." .........................

"It also appeared that working in straight lines has different effects to circlesamd turns, suggesting that altering the work a horse does could modify strains. This could potentially be used in prevention, rehabilitation or management of osteoarthritic changes."

 

[SpruceRI]

This is interesting

I had a horse years ago who was very grumpy and nappy. We put this down to his past life as he had been abused and beaten.

He was a steady ride and seemed to have a 'speed limiter' as he couldn't or wouldn't gallop. Jumped fine though.

Sold him and years later tracked him down to find out he'd not long been PTS because he'd had chronic arthritis in his hocks and been lame for a few years.

Made me then wonder if his whole grumpy nappy slowness was the startings of osteoarthritis, even though he was sound at the time.

Poor boy

 

[siennamum]

This is so true. My old pony was a grumpy little madam, especially to tack up and had spavins in both hocks. I'm sure for years she had been raced around by kids whilst in pain and was expressing her unhappiness the only way she knew how.
I also know a horse, who is a lovely though grumpy belgian cob. Owners decided she really wanted to be a sports horse, she has been schooled for probs 5 hours a week in trot in a deep school for about 2.5 years. During this period they've had 'attitude' issues with her and their enlightened trainer has had to sort her out with extensive use of spurs & whip. She was recently diagnosed with a spavin.... poor girl, how long has that been hurting her.
Funnily enough they've convinced themselves that the damage was done 4 years ago by previous 'happy hacker' owners, although that would be the first horse I know which has spavins through NOT using it's hocks