Capped Hocks

[FinkleyAlex]

My YM has recently pointed out to me that my boy keeps getting "capped hocks". I have been aware that he is gettin small bald patches on his hock (mainly left one) and recently has started cutting them. YM told me to make his bed thicker (had average shavings bed - now has HUGE bed we put about 4 bales down a week) and wears neoprene hock boots whenever he is in his stable and whilst he is not cutting himself anymore, he still seems to be making them bald. Rubber matting is not an option right now financially but is there anything else we could do to prevent this? We assume he does it when he's lying down or getting up and he does have a habit of dragging his feet around and throwing his bed all over the place but we've never found him lying on concrete. Quite concerned as I wanted to show him this year

 

[pfarrugia]

my big boy has capped his hocks and one of his elbows!! I deep litter his bed during the week (actually takes less time to muck out before work!) as rubber matting is not in my budget yet!! I would take the neoprene boots off as they make them sweat and unless the hocks are completely clean before they go on, they do more damage than good imo. If you think he needs hock boots go for sheepskin lined ones (I know they are expensive but are worth it!)

As for getting the swelling down, i've tried everything. Movelat (sp?) a human anti-inflam gel is the best i find (got the recommendation from a lady who is very wise and been showing for longer than I have been alive!)

Good Luck

 

[evsj]

I used neoprene hock boots when my mare had them. I'm not keen on them either but they did the job and she's not had to wear them since. If the swelling doesn't go down the vet can inject into them to disperse the fluid but this is an expensive option - probably only worth doing if you are serious about showing. I started with just two rubber mats bought for 50 quid at the front of the stable so there is no danger of her standing or lying on bare concrete.

 

[Peasfriend]

[ QUOTE ]
my big boy has capped his hocks and one of his elbows!! I deep litter his bed during the week (actually takes less time to muck out before work!) as rubber matting is not in my budget yet!! I would take the neoprene boots off as they make them sweat and unless the hocks are completely clean before they go on, they do more damage than good imo. If you think he needs hock boots go for sheepskin lined ones (I know they are expensive but are worth it!)

As for getting the swelling down, i've tried everything. Movelat (sp?) a human anti-inflam gel is the best i find (got the recommendation from a lady who is very wise and been showing for longer than I have been alive!)

Good Luck

[/ QUOTE ]

Did the Movelat completely reduce the swelling? I ask only as I have a rising 2yo who has a capped hock as the result of a kick. The stuff the vet gave me did very little - wondered if it was worth giving the movelat a go...

 

[pfarrugia]

hiya,

the movelat didn't 'completely' reduce the swelling but near enough - you can still see it if you look hard but not as bad as it was. My vet gave me DMSO which worked for the initial bit but still left a swelling, the movelat brought the swelling down so now you can hardly see it - give it a go - for around £5 a tube it doesn't hurt and won't break the bank!

 

[silversox]

We had a lovely horse who used to lean his bum and hocks on the rough wall of the stable and rub from side to side. He finished up with bald, capped hocks (and a loo brush for a tail)but as he was only doing team-chasing we didn't worry as much as if we had planned to show him. I have also found that if the ground is hard in the summer without much covering of grass, they will get capped hocks. Olive oil is great for encouraging new hair growth but it can be a bit messy!

Do hope you find a prevention and a cure very soon.

 

[aliacc]

If it is big have you tried Preparation H ointment for piles for treatment ( not prevention) ...you get odd looks at the chemist when you buy 2 at once...but it may be worth a try. We used it on our mare when she had a really big capped hock ( did a bit of web searching) and it appeared to work...might be co-incidence ? .

Ali

 

[Murphs_Mum]

Murphy ended up with a capped hock the week I first got him from a kick - I used Bute for two weeks and massaged in Movelat at virtually every opportunity (I got through a lot). Unless you really looked now you would never know - it is almost perfect but I was onto it the second it happened which is important.

 

[claire1976]

If you're putting 4 bales of shavings down a week that must be costing you £20 a week!!! I bought some second hand rubber matting for £120 and its perfect for my mare who has a capped hock from a previous injury and some stiffness. Now I use one bale of Aubiouse a week (£7.50).