Hock Pain - just a sprain or the start of arthritis?!

[Llee94]

So after having a disastrous weekend out eventing, I decided to get the physio out for my horse to see if she was sore. Although she was tight, the physio couldn't find anything wrong with her apart from some slight pain in her right hock when flexed in a very peculiar way (think pulled right up underneath her, then pulled to the outside, and then the cannon bone twisted back into the inside, which I have been told is the equine equivalent of us rotating our foot from the ankle. Although I'm not sure when a horse would ever do that particular movement naturally). She said most horses don't enjoy this but that she is reacting more than she should. She then starting talking about it probably just being a slight sprain but that it could potentially be the start of arthritis!
This was a bit of a shock as the mare has always been fit as a fiddle and is only 14 years old. She seemed fine when I did this flex test yesterday before a walk out but when we came back she reacted slightly again, although no where near as bad as before. She has said to wait a week and re evaluate but if she is still feeling it then I need to get the vet out for scans and xrays.
I suppose I am just after a little reassurance really. Does this sound like something I should be worried about?
Have you ever had a horse with a sprained hock or arthritis?
How long did it take them to recover or what vet treatment did you seek? I have heard about injections but they seem risky and tend to work intermittently.
Did they manage to keep competing?
Are there any supplements you would recommend for keeping joints healthy?
Sorry for all the questions, just have lots swimming around in my head and would like some other peoples thoughts.
Big thank you in advance!

 

[noblesteed]

Hock arthritis is bone spavin I think???? Mine was diagnosed at 14 1/2 so it's not too young. And he was fit.
It's not the end of the world, you will hear tons of stories on here about horses recovering and the more work they get the better.

 

[elsielouise]

Hock arthritis is bone spavin I think???? Mine was diagnosed at 14 1/2 so it's not too young. And he was fit.
It's not the end of the world, you will hear tons of stories on here about horses recovering and the more work they get the better.

Alas same here. My mare was diagnosed about the same age. She has t returned to competition but that's coz I want to be still hacking her about when she's 25. She is 17 now and working.

Tilden x 2 kept her sound to start with then winter came and I didn't want to use drugs when she wouldn't be doing much. She is currently un medicated with a view to some steroids potentially in the future. Am mostly just hacking her and have bought a youngster to come through so slightly different to you. I just want to keep her sound enough to enjoy life as long as possible.

 

[Auslander]

I would be tempted to go for a vet work up in this case. I'd also be very cross with the physio for doing what she did. Lifting and twisting the leg in an unnatural way, particularly when its an older horse, is more than likely to cause pain, even if there is nothing major going on - my vet says that she could make virtually any horse lame by flexing it - although she chooses not to!

 

[Goldenstar]

You must get a vet quickly to this as quick invention could make all the difference .
Horses are very adept at hiding hock pain .