Hock Pain and Spookiness

[siobhain]

Hi All,

Wondering if anyone has experience of hock pain which presented as increased spookiness?

My horse had become increasingly spooky over the last few years, it had coincided with a move from the South to the North and an Asthma diagnosis which resulted in major management changes, 20 acre large herd turnout to very limited single sand paddock turn out over winter months, hay to haylage etc so whilst I did have her eyes checked, physio, osteo and a regumate trial it was ultimately decided it was down to the management / a loss of confidence and try as I might in my area of the country I cannot find a yard that does full livery and proper winter turnout.

She recently started changing legs behind in canter, not regularly ridden at home but when out competing / clinics and on the lunge so with this added to the realisation a horse I would once have described as completely non spooky found even walking to her field so scary she sounded like a fire breathing dragon she went off for full loss of performance work up this week.

She is going through the full blocking today and a scope tommorow but from initial assessment yesterday she was found to have severe hock arthritis. The vet is confident this she will respond well to steroids so everything crossed!

My question basically is anyone who has had a horse who presented pain through spooking / general anxiety (whilst behaving perfectly otherwise) After treatment did they return to their old selves? I'm having excited thoughts of having back my old horse I used to hack over the M25 without a care in the world but wondering if the spooking has been down to the pain rather than management and therefore been there quite a long time, will that worry stay with her..

 

[Widgeon]

Yes definitely, my horse has arthritis in one hock and when he's needing another steroid jab he has the odd "spook" in canter, expect it isn't really a spook, it's a pain reaction and indicates that he needs treating asap. I also had a previous horse who (with hindsight) likely had a back problem; he got more and more spooky and sharp, including to handle on the ground, the more he was ridden. Stop riding and he went back to his calm cheery self. When we realised what was going on he was retired to a companion home.

In your case I would be really confident that it's the arthritis causing the behaviour and that if you can medicate to get her comfortable again, she'll go back to normal. Might also be worth checking for ulcers if she's been in pain from her hocks for a while.

 

[mini-eventer]

It could well be linked - have a look at trigger stacking

Also the change to haylage could be a factor. I changed mine to haylage it sent him loopy - I only realised 2 years on how much it was effecting him. Obviously hocks need sorting but if the behaviour does not improve I would look at the haylage

 

[vhf]

100% yes. Also the one thing she really disliked (off-roading trail bike things) became an utter nemesis that could be heard and stressed about from literally miles away when turned out in her field. Now she's retired she's still aware of them but doesn't fret any more, which is interesting.

 

[Alibear]

As others have said, yes.

 

[nikkimariet]

Yes definitely.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Yes my mare has KS and she used to spook in lessons, buck and shoot off. It “looked” like a legit spook but as she’s 100% bombproof I had it investigated and she’s was in pain. (She was great out hacking, fun rides etc)

 

[Sossigpoker]

Yes pain definitely makes mine unhinged.

 

[lynz88]

Yes most definitely. I had a hard time getting my new prescription for Cartrophen in the summer so poor horse went almost 2 months (double the time) without it (thankfully still had his 1 x bute per day). He was fairly well behaved but had lunatic moments and would get upset quite easily. It took 2 rounds of Cartrophen and no more sporadic bucking sprees.

 

[sbloom]

100% yes, brain and body are one in the horse and a physically compromised horse is a fearful horse, mixed with them masking the discomfort so they're not at the back of the herd and become lunch for a predator - some get spooky, some shut down. And horses don't (ever?) get problems in limbs or back without there being at least mild issues elsewhere. I always recommend my customers not to look at it as primary/secondary but as a compensatory movement pattern being the problem that ultimately has to be fixed, and injections should be a pain free window to do that. This means postural rehab and bodywork, and not just the generic vet recommended fitness programmes and definitely not lunging in a Pessoa etc.

A couple of potentially useful links - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1057026028680817, https://amyskinnerhorsemanship.com/Introduction-to-In-Hand-Work and https://www.yasminstuartequinephysio.com/training-hub-courses

 

[Bellaboo18]

Definitely, pain=horse on high alert and spooky.
Hope you can get her comfortable

 

[deicinmerlyn]

Yes and in turn pain can also contribute/cause ulcers which also causes spooky behaviour.

 

[oldie48]

Yes, definitely. The horse I recently came off was 100% reliable in the school and I trusted him completely. However, I had said to his owner that I was concerned that there was an issue with him, couldn't put my finger on it but just that he was not 100% happy. We didn't listen to him and he he told me more clearly ie spooked , bucked and dropped his shoulder. I should have listened and paid the price. Get the horse checked over.