Capped Hock... Would you buy?

milesjess

milesjess

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Would you look at a horse which has a capped hock? Is it likely to cause problems later on in life?

I'm looking at a horse to buy which has a capped hock and appears to cause her no problems, I'm also not interested in showing.

Ive been told not to look at a horse with a capped hock even if it's free...!

Would it just be a blemish?
 
No, a capped hock is a swelling of the hock due to an injury usually. It is fluid filled, and this may need draining if it swells right up. It can cause pain, and may need corticoid injections into the area. They can become chronic.

Try googling it, and you'll find lots of info - but if it was me, I wouldn't go there. sm x
 
I bought mine with a capped hock. Was advised by the vetting vet that it is an old injury and should cause her no trouble and it hasn't. I can hardly even notice my mares hock, but I suppose if it was a massive one then I'd be slightly more concerned.
 
I would speak to your vet about it and get a proper informed view about it.
I bought a horse with a defect (not a capped hock) which if you google it tells you not to touch with a barge pole. I spoke with my vet about it and also had the horse independently vetted as horse was a long way from mine and have had the horse for 7 years and couldn't be happier with her.
 
I've been told alot of horses that come in from ireland have them due to not having big beds etc, it's just like the thickening tissue on the elbow of a labrador dog say, it doesn't cause any problem to the animal, just scar tissue. A horse on our yard sold at the beggining of last year for over £6000 and he had a capped hock!
 
It depends how severe it is, we had a little shetland who had severe capped hock in both her back legs, the breeder didn't want her as she couldn't breed (legs wouldn't support weight of a stallion or carrying a foal).
She wasn't bothered by it most of her life, could canter around with the rest of them, but we had to have her PTS last month because her little legs just decided they couldn't carry her anymore, and she was only 7 :(

I would say view it, by all means, and talk with your vet and see how serious it is.
 
Mine has capped hocks but is totally fine, although his isnt severe, you can't really tell tbh, his was also from an old injury and can get around fine, jumps and everything, was also hunted quite alot before I bought him. I think it depends on how bad it is really.
 
If its just a capped hock then it is a blemish, just fluid. You see racehorse/event horses with them as sound as a pound, if its something else then maybe more serious. But a capped hock wouldn't put me off a horse. I think its very unusual to drain/inject them, and are best left. Apprantly piles cream can take them down?!
 
Mine passed 2 5 stage vettings. Both vets said she had capped hocks and wouldn't ever cause a problem, as did a third vet when I asked her. They did say that I should take care to protect them whilst traveling but I don't see why anyone wouldn't regardless. So, yes, provided I didn't want to show and they weren't horrific yes, I would.
 
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