bounce
Well-Known Member
I think before deciding to PTS I would ask for back xrays and have a look at that as I wonder whether he is working in this particular way to avoid pain in the back and then putting undue pressure on hocks and ligaments.
CR gurus, opinions on this horse please. *VIDEOS*
- Thread starter charlimouse
- Start date
Baggybreeches
Well-Known Member
Are you sure the hocks aren't secondary? Sorry, don't mean to stir the pot but the history sounds more like a top line problem to me. Although "anywhere between the nose and the tail" isn't very helpful, is it.
That was my first thought, looks and sounds like there is a weakness somewhere and the legs are a symptom.
Bobby Boy
Well-Known Member
You could take a look at Gail Williams website, on the performance development page she talks about a horse with similar problems, I know far less than most in here so please feel free to ignore me
Good luck with whatever you decide
Good luck with whatever you decide
TheSylv007
Well-Known Member
I remember a while back reading about a horse that did a similar thing to yous - may have been on this forum or on youtube - lovely horse that every so oten would flip and be completely uncontrollable and couldnt be reasoned with. Turned out it had a kissing spine which would just 'go' and the pain must have been unbearable. once the owners got it diagnosed the competitive career was over but the horse was able to continue as a hack. Sudden onset of pain could be something to do with the brain flip maybe?
NELSON11
Well-Known Member
I feel your pain, my adorable just 5yo was diagnosed with djd in both hocks in February after me sending him to be backed/produced with a professional rider (cost me £5k) as he was away 8 months.
Came home with a toe drag and I had him xrayed straight away and that's when hid djd showed up, he also has had his hocks injected twice. tildren and 2 lots of adequan. And we are on walk exercise only. So went from a 4yo jumping BN through the winter with the pro to me having a knackered rising 5yo come home to me. Thankfully mine is keeping his head hacking now after a fraught few months initially.
Anyway my other young horse showed very similar signs to your boy Colin, with the suspensories etc. He had secondary back pain which had resulted in kissing spine. So I certainly think you ought to maybe think about looking at the back region and eliminating any impingement in the spine
Best of luck with him, Like I say I know exactly how you feel hun
Came home with a toe drag
and I had him xrayed straight away and that's when hid djd showed up, he also has had his hocks injected twice. tildren and 2 lots of adequan. And we are on walk exercise only. So went from a 4yo jumping BN through the winter with the pro to me having a knackered rising 5yo come home to me. Thankfully mine is keeping his head hacking now after a fraught few months initially. Anyway my other young horse showed very similar signs to your boy Colin, with the suspensories etc. He had secondary back pain which had resulted in kissing spine. So I certainly think you ought to maybe think about looking at the back region and eliminating any impingement in the spine
Best of luck with him, Like I say I know exactly how you feel hun
BeckyD
Well-Known Member
I think it's the name. I know three horses named Colin and they are all chronically not-so-sound in a way that's more obvious in their behaviour/performance than in good old fashioned limping.
Are you sure the hocks aren't secondary? Sorry, don't mean to stir the pot but the history sounds more like a top line problem to me. Although "anywhere between the nose and the tail" isn't very helpful, is it.
Funny you should say that. The only Colin I've ever known has had unidentified issues too.
BeckyD
Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear about the problems your horse has had. I had on/off problems for a long time with my boy. He started resisting forwards movement (he was an ex-racer - i.e. usually keen to go forwards) and very gamely did try to go forwards after a lot of encouragement (me riding with 2 whips, how awful do I now feel? - just to add that was my then instructor's instruction).
He also had occasional "get you on the floor" broncing bouts. Eventually turned out to be PSD and SI. Hock x-rays clear though. We tried to fix the PSD, but it wasn't succesful, and he was PTS last August because he was on the brink of breaking down entirely and his SI would have wreaked havoc had he had to stay out of work as he was. It really was the only way to keep him pain free. God I miss him though I have to say it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.
I think you might find that your horse's dodgy behaviour would clear up if you could find out what's causing the pain/unlevelness, although sounds like you've exhausted that avenue. I have very little experience compared to so many people on here, but I have realised that in the recent years, all the horses that have been troublesome, have all turned out to have good reasons for it, unfortunately.
Looks a nice sort though, worth persevering with
He also had occasional "get you on the floor" broncing bouts. Eventually turned out to be PSD and SI. Hock x-rays clear though. We tried to fix the PSD, but it wasn't succesful, and he was PTS last August because he was on the brink of breaking down entirely and his SI would have wreaked havoc had he had to stay out of work as he was. It really was the only way to keep him pain free. God I miss him though
I have to say it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.I think you might find that your horse's dodgy behaviour would clear up if you could find out what's causing the pain/unlevelness, although sounds like you've exhausted that avenue. I have very little experience compared to so many people on here, but I have realised that in the recent years, all the horses that have been troublesome, have all turned out to have good reasons for it, unfortunately.
Looks a nice sort though, worth persevering with
charlimouse
Well-Known Member
He isn't by Colin Diamond, he is by Crackenthorpe Formula One. Hill work would be really useful (for all my horses) but unfortunately I live on a flood plain, there are no hills whatsoever. Also all hacking is on busy roads, so can't just head off on a long rein if you see what I mean!
charlimouse
Well-Known Member
I might have totally the wrong person/horse here but this isn't the Scottish sports horse you had a couple of years ago is it?
It's a shame to have so many problems with a young horse but as the others have said if he is unlikely to stay sound in decent work but doesn't have the temprament, potentially the only viable options are field ornament or PTA which whilst sad, would prevent the problem possibly being passed on - you might be able to find him a nice home as a companion etc but who knows where he might get passed on to from there
Yes it is. You must have a very good memory!
charlimouse
Well-Known Member
Have the vets advised if fusing the hocks using the alcohol injection route would be suitable? I know he is young but if they think he is suitable it would mean he would be pain free and might have a chance of being someone's horse if not yours. We have a horse that had this done with great success, we also have another horse who is only 9 who has been turned away for a year and his hocks are fusing naturally and they are now both either sound or coming sound
(I'm no expert so please disregard if not applicable)
Yes they have, as a last resort. But would it be worth it for a horse like this? I'm the only one who can make the decision and I really don't know.
charlimouse
Well-Known Member
Thanks everybody! When he goes back to the vets I'll get their opinion on weather they feel the hocks are a secondary issue.
Evidently I condemned him the day I brought him home and named him Colin!
Evidently I condemned him the day I brought him home and named him Colin!
galaxy
Well-Known Member
have you ever had a bone scan done on him?
ecrozier
Well-Known Member
Ahh I thought it might be - I remember some issues about sometimes he would jump and sometimes he simply wouldn't? Only remember because I also have a Scottish sports horse and there aren't that many of them around!!
georgiegirl
Well-Known Member
my older horse george was diagnosed with hock spavin at 11. we had gone eventing and just taken him up to novice level when he started decking me (violently) on landing from a fence.
we went down te steroid injection route and did two bouts of it although i must say he was retired from any sort of jumping - the vets said with the injections he would last maybe 2 years jumping and I didnt want to break him down in that way so to speak so his jumping days were over immediately.
He is still with us (had him since he was 4) and is now 17 and when I do find the time to take him to comps he regularly gets 70% nov and elem.
I really do feel for you, its so hard when your faced with a situation like this but you have to be honest with yourself - with these problems at a young age he is unlikely ever to make a competition horse - he would possibly make a nice job as a hacker/dressage horse - this is the job george does now and it keeps him ticking over healthy and happy.
and for what its worth he is prone to random spaz moments out hacking too where he will dump you but I have still managed to find a lovely sharer for him.
good luck!
we went down te steroid injection route and did two bouts of it although i must say he was retired from any sort of jumping - the vets said with the injections he would last maybe 2 years jumping and I didnt want to break him down in that way so to speak so his jumping days were over immediately.
He is still with us (had him since he was 4) and is now 17 and when I do find the time to take him to comps he regularly gets 70% nov and elem.
I really do feel for you, its so hard when your faced with a situation like this but you have to be honest with yourself - with these problems at a young age he is unlikely ever to make a competition horse - he would possibly make a nice job as a hacker/dressage horse - this is the job george does now and it keeps him ticking over healthy and happy.
and for what its worth he is prone to random spaz moments out hacking too where he will dump you but I have still managed to find a lovely sharer for him.
good luck!
Vizslak
Well-Known Member
tough one I dont envy you
Thing is if there is no other issue ie, the hocks are not secondary, fusing the hocks and therefore making him pain free may well stop the spazzy moments as well as they could be a pain reaction, my boy is FOUL and very dangerous with any sort of pain coming from anywhere. So I guess, he might be worth the chance to be someone elses horse, especially at his age but it is a very difficult choice to make and as I say I dont envy you. FWIW I think he looks pretty unlevel behind in the vids, but you knew that already.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Thing is if there is no other issue ie, the hocks are not secondary, fusing the hocks and therefore making him pain free may well stop the spazzy moments as well as they could be a pain reaction, my boy is FOUL and very dangerous with any sort of pain coming from anywhere. So I guess, he might be worth the chance to be someone elses horse, especially at his age but it is a very difficult choice to make and as I say I dont envy you. FWIW I think he looks pretty unlevel behind in the vids, but you knew that already.
Good luck with whatever you decide.