Hock spavin/arthritis: is the horse in pain?

QueenT

QueenT

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Our 10 yo connie has hock spavin in the left hind leg, almost completely fused. She had a Tildren treatment in June, but sometimes (max once per week) I think I see a lowgrade lameness when she comes right out of the stall in the morning. I could be paranoid but I don't think so. It goes completely away after a couple of steps but is it safe to assume that the pain goes away when she's warm? Two vets have different views, one says that a lameness is always a sign of underlying pain and it lies in the horse's nature to hide the pain from predators (= more treatment?). The other vet says that ideally she should not be lame, but we know the cause of it and she clearly warms out of it quickly. What are your experiences with riding/jumping/managing spavin horses? Thank you!
 
I would ask a human who can explain in words. My experience of aching joints that cause me to be 'lame' on getting out of bed is that by the time I am 'warmed up' and no longer lame, I'm also no longer in pain. I'd assume a horse is similar.

I also have a friend who has been involved in the clinical research into controlled exercise as a treatment for arthritis, and not only did she find it beneficial, but the study showed fairly conclusively that it worked.

As long as it wears off quickly and isn't getting worse, I think I'd probably go with vet two and carry on just as you are.
 
Hmm. I expect it depends on the individual, really.
My mum has arthritis and although she gets more mobile as she gets going, it's definitely still hurting.
The thing about horses is we expect them to do stuff that they wouldn't choose to do if we weren't there, and it's in their nature to disguise lameness.
Therefore I'd personally be thinking more like vet 1, and on the days you notice discomfort I think I'd ask about popping her a danilon if your vet agreed. I agree that movement is key in keeping these horses well :) The horses I've known with spavins have improved once the fusion was complete.
 
I have an arthritic shoulder and most of the time it's just a bit of a dull ache. If i do too much, sleep on it badly then nurofen is a godsend. I tend to apply the same approach to both my arthrtic horses.

The older one is on daily bute. Increase to 2 for feet trim day and he thinks he's Valegro. He's not ridden but does in hand stuff. Stabled over winter he can be stiff in the morning but walks it off.

The younger one showed v bad arthritic hocks on x-ray at just 6 (she'd done nothing). They've had 1 x injections but I think we'll be doing them annually along with her SI until they fuse. She looks ok out the box but if you get on without walking her round in hand first, then she'll show you exactly what's meant by a cold backed horse. Also managed with danilon.
 
Oh god, I jinxed it! 😭 This evening we took the horses in, nothing to see, strong even steps. Then, daughter saddles up, goes to the arena, looks a little odd. Walks pony in hand, two laps in lameness is painfully clear, and over the 50 yards back to the stable the pony is not putting any weight on that left hind! Now my daughter is crying her eyes out, and the vet is on for tomorrow... again 😔
 
Sorry to hear about your troubles @QueenT. My Mum bought a gelding from a dealer who turned out to have hock spavin and ended up having surgery. All I can say is that he was quite a different horse after surgery compared to how he was before, less quiet. I assume from his change in behaviour that he had always had some degree of pain prior to the surgery and that essentially he felt better, even though he wasn't always obviously lame before surgery, but that is just me guessing.

I hope you work something out for your mare and that your daughter is OK.
 
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