Loading issues - hock problem?

[Belmont]

Has anyone had a once good loader, progressively get worse and then diagnosed as a hock issue? Or anything else for that matter?

I have an older horse that has been very well travelled throughout his life. Since he's been with me (since January), he's progressively got worse to load. I've changed trailers from a single without partition, to an 511 with a partition (as previous owner had) and he's still sticky. There's a couple of other things that are making me suspect his hocks, despite being sound and enjoying his work.

Any previous experiences appreciated!

 

[Birker2020]

Has anyone had a once good loader, progressively get worse and then diagnosed as a hock issue? Or anything else for that matter?

I have an older horse that has been very well travelled throughout his life. Since he's been with me (since January), he's progressively got worse to load. I've changed trailers from a single without partition, to an 511 with a partition (as previous owner had) and he's still sticky. There's a couple of other things that are making me suspect his hocks, despite being sound and enjoying his work.

Any previous experiences appreciated!

Well I had one that was great loading for 7.5 years and then after jumping double clear twice at a show decided she wouldn't come home but I think it was the pigs I showed her at the show centre that caused her issues loading. She did have spavin (hock arthritis) but I don't think that had anything to do with it.

By that point she'd had steroids, tildren and as a last resort chemical arthrodesis which was finally the game changer with half a sachet of bute before we competed on vets advice - due to any stiffness, no lameness present at that time.

The only thing that made the slightest difference was leaving the top door open about an inch and leaving a radio on.

I personally don't think it was the spavin. She went to Monty Robert's demo and Kelly felt she was claustrophobic but she'd not grown and if she was ok for 7.5 yrs before that which took her to the age of 14.5 yrs then I doubt it! Unless she had a late growth spurt lol

You could question coffin joints as Bailey did have those medicated too.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Yes, perfect loader and traveller turned into the opposite. Turns out he had a malformation in his neck with was arthritic. The breast bar pushed against where it hurt and that was why, after his steroids he improved but never went back to how he was.

I always thought a bad loader or traveller can often be due to pain.

 

[canteron]

Yes - my horse started to genuinely hate loading - and then ulcers diagnosed.

She is now loading fine after treatment, be interesting to see how she actually travels.

 

[JGC]

Yep, mine in my avatar!

 

[spacefaer]

Yes. Had one that suddenly couldn't travel herringbone (aged 13) but was OK in trailer. Then a couple of years later, became tricky to load in a trailer.
Had his hocks injected and he reverted to being good.