Hard lump on outside of hock...

[H-J]

Some advice needed for my friends horse.....

He was kicked in the field 2 weeks ago, when she got him in he had a hoof mark on his thigh and just below a little nick on the outside of the hock. The kick was quite swollen and the outside of the hock but it was a hard swelling instantly almost like a splint. He has never been lame on this and there has never been any heat. It has been cold hosed twice a day and cooling gel applied.

The thigh swelling had now gone but the hard lump on the hock is still there, it is on the outside and you cant see unless you really study from behind it is the right shape just comes out slightly more then teh other one but again has never had any heat and has continued to work fine and be turned out with no lameness at all.

Do you think this could be splint like?? thx!!

 

[Daisychain]

My four year old has thrown what looks like a splint on the outside of her hock, its rock hard and just seemed to appear overnight! you can press it etc and it doesnt hurt at all, quite sound so im not to worried. By the way vet said it was a splint.

 

[josephinebutter2]

Hi Holly!

Strictly speaking, it can't be a splint as this is a bony growth of the splint bone only, but other bones can react by growing excess cartilage when they get a hard impact, like a kick, which would leave a very hard lump that cannot be manipulated.

True splints from an impact are just more common coz the splint bone is quite a thin bone with no covering of muscle, so is more easily damaged.

Rory has one on his face from when he was kicked when he was 4.

So long as there is no heat, swelling or pain, and that it does not interfere with the joint, it should be fine.