Hock arthritis?

[Patterdale]

My daughter’s pony, who is 16 and has had a full life, has started looking a bit stiff behind. One side worse than the other. She’s not lame as such, happily going forward and jumping, but is more reluctant to canter one way, and is going disunited and snatching the reins.

Physio, trainer and I all think hocks. I’m going to take her in to get looked at in the next week or two, but I’ve not dealt with anything like this in the past 15 years so I want to do my research first!

What are the current treatment options? Any considered better than others?
Pony is not insured but I’m happy to pay for her to be right.

I’m doing as much other research as I can but I know there will be people here who’ve dealt with this recently so I’d appreciate any pointers please. Thanks!

 

[Birker2020]

My daughter’s pony, who is 16 and has had a full life, has started looking a bit stiff behind. One side worse than the other. She’s not lame as such, happily going forward and jumping, but is more reluctant to canter one way, and is going disunited and snatching the reins.

Physio, trainer and I all think hocks. I’m going to take her in to get looked at in the next week or two, but I’ve not dealt with anything like this in the past 15 years so I want to do my research first!

What are the current treatment options? Any considered better than others?
Pony is not insured but I’m happy to pay for her to be right.

I’m doing as much other research as I can but I know there will be people here who’ve dealt with this recently so I’d appreciate any pointers please. Thanks!

Arthramid appears to be the drug of choice now.

But its more a long term lifestyle change that really helps, keeping the weight off the horse, as much turnout as possible, possible remedial shoeing if the horses has started placing its limbs in such a way to avoid pain, which can cause problems in other areas, a good joint supplement, plenty of warming up prior to riding, and good cooling down afterwards.

Picking your surfaces in which to ride on, so no long periods of trotting on the roads. No long periods of galloping on firm ground, etc.

Usually people start with steroid injections called intra articular injections. Then if that doesn't work there are other options like Tildren or chemical arthrodesis which my horse had.

But like I say Arthramid is meant to be a really good option. Its a gel that is injected into the joint. It doesn't contain steroid and there is therefore no steroid induced laminitis risk. Horses can be turned out after 48 hours (this was the case for mine anyway with coffin joints) and it can last 18 months or more.

There are loads of treatment available and bute can help too - if you go down this route its much cheaper from an animal med site if you get a prescription from your vet.

Try not to worry. When i was told my horse had spavin it turned my world upside down, yet we were able to compete SJ l, dressage and do fun rides for years afterwards. Most horses respond really well and if you catch it early enough then you can avoid over compensation by your horses altered change of foot placement which will go a long way.

Glad you mentioned physio. They will be one of your first points of call after the vet in keeping your horse ticking over and will be able to spot any over compensatory issues. I can recommend a corker if you are Midlands based.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I recently posted this on another thread. Bilateral hock jabs with arthramid + steroid on my wonky uninsured 17 yo Cushing's mare cost £889.56 in clinic in early Feb '23 (no call out fee). Excellent results, her whole demeanour has changed for the better.

My 17yo wonky mare was first diagnosed with hock arthritis in 2017. Initially she had steroid jabs, which were short lasting. In Aug '20 she got arthramid in both hocks and it lasted well over 2 years.

Recently she became uncomfortable again, and 20 days ago she had arthramid AND steroid in both hocks, which is what my vets do routinely now. Last time she couldn't have steroid as well as arthramid in her hocks as she had it in her SI the same day.

The improvement in her in just 20 days on is nothing short of dramatic. Her whole stance and demenour are better. She has been reassessed by the chiro vet who was the first to think that her hocks needed doing again, and she is so pleased with her. Walks, trots and canters freely and easily on the lunge inc transitions. Before the jabs, she was tense and bucking.

Her left hock, which was the most sore, is nearly fused and it was quite tricky to find space to get the needle in, and vet had to check positioning by x ray, but it clearly went in the right place.

My mare is not insured either, plus has a very wonky pelvis after a field accident, but she has been cleared by both vets to be ridden again.

Good luck.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Ive had good success with steroid initially and then arthramid, given the choice i would choose arthramid. My horse had her hocks done with arthramid in august last year, she was toe dragging downhills and squaring off her toes and getting sore SI . After a week the toe dragging was completely gone, her feet no longer wear on the toes, and her si has not been sore since. Im hoping it continues, some have reported it lasting 2 years +.

my horse is also now barefoot and has been out 24/7 instead of stabled at night for the last year or so and it has made a massive difference.

there are lots of brilliant treatment options now , good luck!

 

[Boots*McGruber]

Mine had cartrophen followed by steroid injection to treat arthritis in both hocks. He also went from being unshod behind to being shod with lateral extensions. This was recommended by the vet for extra support. Keeping his weight down and regular, correct work has helped (he's now on exercise livery so ridden by people more capable than me a few times a week). I like to be careful on the hard ground in the summer. He has not had injections for 18 months now and vet was happy with his hocks when she came out last week. He is only nine though and it was considered 'mild' arthritis. Hope this helps and good luck with your pony.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine had the arthramid gel and steroid in both hocks my vet also scanned suspensories because they often go hand in hand and he had some damage to those so had laser, he still wasn't cantering properly after all the treatment so we though si joint so that was medicated as well and within a week he was almost back to normal.

So might be worth checking all of those things as not worth treating 1 and then finding other problems later on.