Diagnosed with a spavin today :-( ** Updated**

Horseback Rider

Horseback Rider

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So I posted a few weeks ago as my TB had been diagnosed with a spavin on his hock

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=579718

He was on bute for 2 weeks and seemed a lot happier. Then he came off it 4 days ago and defo not a happy bunny any more. So my vet X-rayed the joint today and it isn't really good news as the spavin seems to have formed some time ago and is already fused so i.m not sure injections would really help that much ?

He will be on 1 bute every other day to see if it helps and a joint supplement. My vet has a horse with the same condition who is now lightly competing at SJ so I suppose there is hope that he could do something ??


Anyway i've never had a horse with this condition before so your experiences or advice would be appreciated.
 
I used to have a horse with Spavins and once they had fused she came sound and was more comfortable.
She did low level dressage and odd jumping but we had further injuries which stopped us doing more
 
I had mines hocks injected a few months ago and he was no better. So took shoes off and turned him out. He seems so much better already. I decided to retire him but am now thinking he can come back into work. Today he causally walked up to the 5 bar gate in his field and then popped over it. So I am thinking that he feels much better. I think perhaps the injections and Tildren just needed more time to kick in.
 
Doesn't have to mean the end. Last horse I worked with where it fused in the hock, it was just a case of riding every day or long reining. It took 5 months but after that pain had gone and horse went on to normal work again.

All horses are different though so take the lead from your vet.
 
My daughters pony was diagnosed with bone spavin last september. He was very lame on both back legs. He is now on grass livery. Started off on bute to keep him comfortable, then went on to alpha bute, then a herbal supplement and magnet boots. He's now sound on his legs and has benefitted from being out and not stabled. She does have two other horses, both youngsters, so needing him to be sound for riding is not an issue, she will try riding him in the summer and if the hocks can't take it we will give him longer. But its looking very hopeful at the moment. Turning him out means he is moving all the time.
 
I was thinking of trying him in the spring. Have bought another horse so time isn't an issue. He's only 9 thou so would be a shame if he had to retire permanently, but if he does, he does.
 
Take the lead from your vet. You can start off by long reining as you get a great view of how the hocks are working. Then you can start to lunge on very large circle, preferably in a large school or field and nothing strenuous. Not as exercise, but as a way of assessing hock movement. They are all different so if you take the lead from your vet, you will be better placed to get it right :-)
 
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