Hock spavins symptoms.......

charlie76

charlie76

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Could anyone who has had a horse with hock spavins let me know what the symptoms might be as my horse doesn't feel normal at the moment. He is very reluctant to perform any lateral work or do any collected work. When he is shod he holds one hind leg up very high for a few seconds before relaxing. However, he is not showing any lame steps.
 
they will be stiffer after being in, toe drag is a possibility, difficulty collecting and reluctance to work on soft/deep ground, they often turn the toes out with spavin too.

bilateral lameness would hide lameness btw! and flexion tests will make it much more noticeable!
 
mine has just been diagnosed with bone spavins in both hocks, he walked with a twist in his foot, he twisted them outwards. he was very irregular behind, reluctant to use his hind end and lame on flexion tests. its definatly worth having a lameness workup, it cost me about £80 to have on done and the first one he had done didnt show to much but as the spavins formed he became worse and the second flexions along with a different vet showed a fair few things. since then he has been to horspital for bonescans and radiographs and has two kissing spines, bone spavins in both hocks and possible navicular which is being x-rayed next week. they are hardy creatures, he didnt show much pain only towards the end where he had enough and refused to move forwards, up untill then he was competing BD novice level but was showing mild signs like tilting his head and going hollow.
 
Yup mine also tilted his head and also when he was travelling he would lean on the partition. He also suffered with reluctance to go forwards and not wanting to use his backend.
 
One of mine has mild arthritic changes in his hocks (Spavin)- one is slightly worse than the other.

He was diagnosed a couple of years ago when he was 8, despite me being so careful bringing him on as he is so big- he was tight in his back, found it difficult to stay straight and keep engaged- I got my Vets straight over- he said he reckoned it was Spavin as soon as he saw him, and the Flexion tests/ Xrays confirmed everything!- Cortisone injections sorted him out and he was sound and back in full work within a couple of weeks.

When he's due to be remedicated (which he has done every 6-12 months) I just know because he loses activity in the hind leg, and can be tense under the saddle and try to run through the bridle!

He's in full work/competing and to look at him now you wouldn't think theres anything wrong with him- just to give some hope!

Any q's feel free to send me a PM!
 
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Chalky was really reluctant to canter and to use his quarters like on circles and stuff, best way to find out is to get him x-rayed if you are really worried about it, thats what happened to Chalky, he has a £350 injection of a drug called Tildren and TOUCH WOOD [touches desk] he seems to be getting better :D
 
Mine started out with general reluctance to go forward or collect, especially on a circle. Felt like I'd lost power from behind, then began bucking in upward canter transition.

Vet work-up showed 1/10 lame on a circle, x-rayed back hocks, diagnosed spavin. Treated with series of corstisoid injections into joints, kept in work, sound & happy again in work ever since :)

Have you talked your horse's symptoms through with your vet?
 
The vet is coming later. I have just noticed a reluctance to sit and carry himself, with regards to lateral work , he won't go forward in halfpass/leg yield and he is reluctant to cross his hind legs, if I insist he stops and threatens to rear. He is usually a big moving supple horse who tries but he isn't happy to at the moment, if I canter a small (10 m) circle on the right rein and ask for him to engage his hind leg he sometimes throws his head a little. Last week when I did a dressage test on him , when I made the final turn on to the centre line he stopped and reared.
I also feel on one rein there is some unlevel steps in medium trot.
 
just seen your post, hope you find something. you know your horse and when its out of character for them you know when something isnt right, good luck.
 
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