If your horse has hock issues, do they have front issues too?

[Pc2003]

My lad has hock spavins. One hock confirmed 4 years ago and other had changes and small spur.
It's not been straightforward tho as very odd symptoms and has no vet is 100% sure that's the full picture but that was years ago and he is now a happy hack. No bute, all injections made no difference so just loads of natural time off and most of the time now he is fine as a hack.
But, over the last 18months he has developed a slight front end stumble/slight giving way. Hard to tell whether it's shoulder or what really. It's only when ridden and when i have seen it, it kinda looks like his fetlock just doesn't bend when it lands if that makes sense. It maybe happens 2/3 times in a 40 mins hack? Doesn't seem to bother him and he feels very sturdy. The vet said this is all due to his spavins and the fact they will put more pressure on the front end. I wondered if it was more arthritis in the front?
I don't involve the vets anymore unless really needed and we just manage the best we can. I just wondered whether other horses have this issue? He has physio every 8 weeks and he is better after that

 

[Birker2020]

My lad has hock spavins. One hock confirmed 4 years ago and other had changes and small spur.
It's not been straightforward tho as very odd symptoms and has no vet is 100% sure that's the full picture but that was years ago and he is now a happy hack. No bute, all injections made no difference so just loads of natural time off and most of the time now he is fine as a hack.
But, over the last 18months he has developed a slight front end stumble/slight giving way. Hard to tell whether it's shoulder or what really. It's only when ridden and when i have seen it, it kinda looks like his fetlock just doesn't bend when it lands if that makes sense. It maybe happens 2/3 times in a 40 mins hack? Doesn't seem to bother him and he feels very sturdy. The vet said this is all due to his spavins and the fact they will put more pressure on the front end. I wondered if it was more arthritis in the front?
I don't involve the vets anymore unless really needed and we just manage the best we can. I just wondered whether other horses have this issue? He has physio every 8 weeks and he is better after that

They are more likely to overcompensate especially if they are still in pain so there is every chance that they will develop problems with their front legs although I would suggest its more common for them to develop back soreness.

If you are concerned about arthritis on the front feet then maybe it might be worth having xrays and a full lameness investigation. At least then you will have a correct diagnosis and can go from there. Its great you have a physio come and assess the horse, they may be able to suggest certain exercises and ways of going whilst riding that will help.

Someone said to me on this forum that horses who have their hocks fused have a higher incidence of suspensory branch problems, I have never heard of this myself and my vet has said this is total rubbish.

Fusion is a brilliant answer for hock problems, but vets like to go down the whole route of intra articular injections and then Tildren before offering ethanol fusion.

Its worked very well on my horse initially, he's continued with novice and elem unaff dressage and jumping up to a 1m unaffilated, one day events and fun rides as well as hacking. The secret is to keep a horse ticking over, and in as much work as they can manage. Once you cut down on exercise or turnout you are left with a problem.

However, having said that 5-8% of horse do develop problems some three to four years following ethanol fusion, this has come to light with my horse and my vet, physio (who is due out tonight) and farrier are all working to try and keep him as sound and painfree as possible using a combination of methods. My vet seemed very positive. If he cannot go back to his level of work then he will be kept for hacking and as a pet.

Many, many spavin horses after treatment can continue at the level they were at previously, there is a lot vets can do these days.

 

[Goldenstar]

The answer is briefly yes .
Sometimes it because the genetic predisposition for issues means that other joints can be often effected .
And sometimes it's compensation damage as the horse tries to shift the discomfort around .
Which ever it is you need a vets imput to isolate the cause ( usually by a series of nerve blocks to isolate the pain and then diagnostics to see what's going on )and then treat as necessary .

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

With stumbling, I would look at foot balance, saddle fit and shoulder issues. I have had 2 that stumble - 1 had very bad front feet. My current horse has stumbled ever so slightly recently - got his saddle reflocked in front and a big difference. He also had a assess ion of myofascial release yesterday and he had issues with both shoulders. He has a habit of spooking violently at things always to the right and he jars that shoulder. Lady says it's a prime reason for them to stumble.

Just throwing a few ideas out there - stumbling can be for all sorts of reasons so if it were me, I'd be looking at the front straight away.

 

[Pc2003]

Should have added over the years he has had many, many, many X Ray's and blocks. His whole front end plus spine has been X rayd in the last couple of years and all that showed

 

[Pc2003]

Should have added over the years he has had many, many, many X Ray's and blocks. His whole front end plus spine has been X rayd in the last couple of years and all that showed was some twisting of the joints from his hoof. His front feet are an awful shape. He has had loads of remedial work over the years but actually now is barefoot and doing better than ever and the shape looks better. It kind of feels like his hoof isn't connecting with the floor properly if that makes sense?

And yes to the saddle fitting as when his saddle was tight over his shoulders it was much worse. He now has a new saddle and he is better than ever

 

[Pc2003]

They are more likely to overcompensate especially if they are still in pain so there is every chance that they will develop problems with their front legs although I would suggest its more common for them to develop back soreness.

If you are concerned about arthritis on the front feet then maybe it might be worth having xrays and a full lameness investigation. At least then you will have a correct diagnosis and can go from there. Its great you have a physio come and assess the horse, they may be able to suggest certain exercises and ways of going whilst riding that will help.

Someone said to me on this forum that horses who have their hocks fused have a higher incidence of suspensory branch problems, I have never heard of this myself and my vet has said this is total rubbish.

Fusion is a brilliant answer for hock problems, but vets like to go down the whole route of intra articular injections and then Tildren before offering ethanol fusion.

Its worked very well on my horse initially, he's continued with novice and elem unaff dressage and jumping up to a 1m unaffilated, one day events and fun rides as well as hacking. The secret is to keep a horse ticking over, and in as much work as they can manage. Once you cut down on exercise or turnout you are left with a problem.

However, having said that 5-8% of horse do develop problems some three to four years following ethanol fusion, this has come to light with my horse and my vet, physio (who is due out tonight) and farrier are all working to try and keep him as sound and painfree as possible using a combination of methods. My vet seemed very positive. If he cannot go back to his level of work then he will be kept for hacking and as a pet.

Many, many spavin horses after treatment can continue at the level they were at previously, there is a lot vets can do these days.

My horse never returned to the level of work he was at before and I don't think he ever will. He was diagnosed 4 ish years ago and no one mentioned fusing via the method you had. My vets bills totalled 6.5k (insurance covered 5k) as he wasn't a straight forward case and he is Lou now. I still do look at the fusing of joints but I presume they would want to do whole new host of tests and X Ray's etc plus the cost of the treatment would run into thousands I guess and not being covered would mean I would have to pay and I can't justify that. He is only 11 tho

 

[Goldenstar]

It's a very difficult place to be I am sad for you both .

 

[Pc2003]

It's a very difficult place to be I am sad for you both .

Don't be! It's a miracle he is hackable to be honest! We just muddle on thru. 2 years ago he was fully retired facing being pts so the fact we can lightly work him 5 times a week is amazing! Most of the time people on the yard don't think there is anything wrong with him and def no shoes and new saddle has helped loads. I just wondered whether it was a given he would have front end problems due to his hocks

 

[Zuzzie]

My 21 year old horse has arthritic hocks and arthritis in his right foot. He does stumble from time to time, noticeably when he is being lazy more often than not - sometimes its like he's gone down an imaginary hole. However, I have found that if I ask him to take a slightly longer stride by tipping my hips back and driving him more with my seat (not aggressively) he takes a better step and the stumbling disappears.

 

[mastermax]

I bought my horse knowing he had been xray'd and confirmed with Navicular, myself and farrier spent a lot of time and heartache getting him sound. He went on to show and to dressage but then started refusing a contact and was always "sore" in his back. Vet, Chiro, Bowen, equisage and anything else didn't make any difference. I was prepared to retire him and just have a beautiful pet but xray'd his hocks as a last resort and sure enough he had bone spavins.
He has had steroid injections and cartrofen and is "at the moment" hacking happily and comfortably. I don't know the answer but a lot of the front and back end problems seem to go hand in hand.