Crunching hock.

[aragon123]

My ex racer now 12 has a crunching which seems to be around the hock area. When schooling hes rather stiff to start off with and after a good canter then he tracks up lovely. However for the last few months i have noticed the crunching (Similar to when you crunch your neck) getting louder and more frequent.
The vet said it may be his tendon and told me to massage the back leg before riding and suggested adding deep heat or liniment to the massage. however is sound very much like his hock bones!
I have started on a Suppliment which is high in HAcid and other antinflamitory substances.
He is NOT lame and doesnt seem uncomfortable when lunging, schooling or riding out.
Is it better to rest him? Or carry on the riding, i just dont want to make the condition worse.
Living in Western Europe we dont have access to luxuary modern technology.
We dont have the provision of X ray machines etc..

Any advice what this may be? and how to deal with it?

Much appreciated

 

[spike123]

it could be arthritis.Feeding a good joint supplement may well help.Why does the vet think it's a tendon problem? I wouldn't stop working a horse with arthritis but obviously if there is tendon damage you could easily make the problem worse.Is there no way you could have xrays or an MRI done at all? That would really help you to know how to proceed. If not then once the supplement is in your horses system you should see signs of improvement if it is arthritis and I would continue working the horse but perhaps lighten the workload a bit if he is in hard work. If it turns out to be a tendon issue then the supplement wouldn't make any difference and continuing to work him could cause the tendon to break down fully, so at that point I really would want another opinion and further investigation.

 

[aragon123]

I very much appreciate you feed back and advice.

The vet initial thought it to be tendon because it started as a squeeking noise. Two months later, to me it sounds like the noise is crunching and this has gotten progressivly worse over the last few weeks. My daughter thinks it more of a clicking noise.

I have recently supplimented his diet with premier flex they claim it have more of the Hyaluronic acid than most other brands together with glucosamine chrodrotin and msm. Is there any you would reccomend?
Is there anything else? Apple cider vinegar is supposed to have antiinflamitory propertys?

Do you think this condition will improve or worsen?

In terms of work load i ride 1hr-1.30 three times a week, lunge every other day for 30 -40 min and may be a day rest once a week. The work includes trot canter lateral and polls. nothing too demanding, not for him. Is this too much?

 

[spike123]

bumping for further replies for you. If it's arthritis then by now the joint supplement you are giving should be helping. Personally I have used cortaflex in the past with success but different horses respond to different treatments. I wouldn't lunge as much as you are now,if at all as lunging places alot of stress on the joints.