Managing mild hock arthritis in young-ish horse?

[Lammy]

So after a bone scan, X-rays, gait analysis and nerve blocking we’ve agreed the minor changes in my boys hocks are the most likely candidate of my horse not being 100% happy. A plan of attack has been formed and he’s had his injections, fingers crossed they do the trick.

I’ve been told by the vet to avoid trotting on roads and to not run on hard ground if we were to go eventing, which is no problem. But how else can I help manage and keep his hocks in good condition? I’ve looked at the Premier HA equine answers supplement which I will most likely order a tub of as it has lots of good reviews.

I’ve also looked at the ice vibe/magnetic hock boots. Does anyone have any experiences with these, are there any to avoid or ones people really recommend? This is the first horse I’ve had to manage with arthritis and it’s quite unexpected as he’s only 8, been backed 2 years and he hasn’t done an awful lot for one reason or another. So any advice and tips are greatly appreciated ?

 

[Michen]

Yep I don't really trot on roads bar a few transitions up a hill. Am careful with ground. Tbh those are things I've always done anyway.

I am a stickler for a proper warm up and cool down- at least ten mins of each in walk. So that means actual schooling work is usually only 20 mins or so.

I feed Boswellia (liquid version), keep him warm, turnout as much as poss (but not on frozen rutted ground- but ensure he's moved both ends of day if not turned out). I also do in hand pole type work once a week though I've been bad for this lately. Usually twice a week in winter when hacking less.

Mine is 9 and was diagnosed last year, he is in the best form he has ever been in

 

[Goldenstar]

Get them injected with Arthrimid .
Its really effective in the early stages of spavin .

 

[SEL]

Mine was diagnosed at 6 and if I could roll back time I'd have done arthramid there and then rather than 'seeing how she goes'. The knock on impact of sore hocks affected her way of going and I'm sure contributed to the SI and suspensory issues. Change in vet practice helped immensely.

 

[Lammy]

Yep I don't really trot on roads bar a few transitions up a hill. Am careful with ground. Tbh those are things I've always done anyway.

I am a stickler for a proper warm up and cool down- at least ten mins of each in walk. So that means actual schooling work is usually only 20 mins or so.

I feed Boswellia (liquid version), keep him warm, turnout as much as poss (but not on frozen rutted ground- but ensure he's moved both ends of day if not turned out). I also do in hand pole type work once a week though I've been bad for this lately. Usually twice a week in winter when hacking less.

Mine is 9 and was diagnosed last year, he is in the best form he has ever been in

Thanks for this, I think I’m mildly panicking as arthritis sounds scary but then I remind myself that it’s manageable and that I myself have arthritis in my hip that doesn’t bother me if I “work” correctly and I’m only 28.

But yes I’m always careful on hard ground anyway and our yard hacking doesn’t have to touch a road unless we want to go around the village so that’s probably all we’ll do. We’re very lucky with our turnout too.

I’ll have a look at the Boswellia thank you. I was thinking of hock boots for the stable as he’s such a hot horse generally, he doesn’t own a heavyweight rug as he would never use it even fully clipped. So I thought I could target the hocks without making him too warm all over. I have read about in hand pole work being good for them too so I’ll definitely be scheduling that in once a week! Thanks for all your suggestions!

 

[Lammy]

Get them injected with Arthrimid .
Its really effective in the early stages of spavin .

Mine was diagnosed at 6 and if I could roll back time I'd have done arthramid there and then rather than 'seeing how she goes'. The knock on impact of sore hocks affected her way of going and I'm sure contributed to the SI and suspensory issues. Change in vet practice helped immensely.

Annoyingly we had them done straight after his gait analysis and nerve blocking while we were at the hospital so I didn’t get to look at all the different options before injecting. But the vet seemed pretty happy to try steroid with the HA mix first and see how we do with that.

He was a bit of a puzzle, before the nerve blocking his lameness could only be seen on the gait analysis and even then it was ever so slight on the right. After we blocked the left the right was worse on the gait analysis but still only just noticeable when lunged on hard ground. He’d previously not reacted to flexions either. So we’ve had to piece together the issue as if you just looked at his X-rays, as my vet did, you’d say that it was unlikely to be the problem, so I’m not sure if that has an impact on what’s injected?

 

[superpony]

My boy has just retired at 23 and he was diagnosed with hock arthritis aged 8. The only reason he is now retired is he can no longer have the steriod injections as he now has cushings too.

I always did a long warm up and cool down. He wore magnetic boots after a lesson, camps, competitions etc. He has the bioflow ones. When it was really cold in winter, he wore the thermatex wraps over night and he had as much turnout as possible. He also had regular physio.

He competed up to elementary level BD including regionals, areas, Under 25 champs, did camps, jumped etc. When he was first diagnosed, I was worried that was it but in fact it is the cushings really that has caused the retirement rather than the arthritis.

 

[Nicnac]

Arthramid isn't great for hocks - doesn't work that well.

Sounds as if you are doing things right - 24/7 turnout if possible, avoid hard ground, use a supplement (personally I use Bozmerix and GLME). Learn what the signs are when next treatment due - each horse is different.

 

[Celtic Fringe]

My cob has also had steroid and HA injections in his hocks. There were no changes visible on x-ray but he was very slightly uneven on trot-up and reluctant to collect. He has just been re-injected after 15 months. He is 10 and competing at BD Advanced Medium/PSG. He lives out and is never ridden in the school for more than 2 days in a row. We keep his work as varied as possible to avoid repetitive strain and keep his brain happy! Other horses in the yard have had similar treatment, are sound and working at PSG and above in their very late teens

 

[Jellymoon]

I have one also diagnosed very young, she’s much better out 24/7, I really notice if she ever has to stay in how much stiffer she is. I keep schooling in circles to an absolute minimum as this is when I notice it most, so she mainly hacks. I don’t currently medicate, but I probably would have to if I wanted to event her.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Arthramid isn't great for hocks - doesn't work that well.

Sounds as if you are doing things right - 24/7 turnout if possible, avoid hard ground, use a supplement (personally I use Bozmerix and GLME). Learn what the signs are when next treatment due - each horse is different.

What makes you say that?

I've known two horses who had it injected into their Hocks and have had brilliant results.

 

[SEL]

What makes you say that?

I've known two horses who had it injected into their Hocks and have had brilliant results.

The farrier couldn't bring my mare's left hind forward to trim even after steroids. I used to hate feet trim days because she'd get so stressed. Different horse after arthramid injections and i know the vet practice have had a lot of success with it in hocks - so I'm with you!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Arthramid isn't great for hocks - doesn't work that well.

Eh? Where did you hear that?

My experience is the opposite. Two horses injected with arthramid in both hocks having previously been injected with steroid.

Gel injections have been both more effective and much longer lasting.

My vet practice has had great results with arthramid.

 

[Regandal]

My 15 year old had his first lot of hock injections with steroids a couple of months ago. I asked the vet about arthramid, he’s not keen on using it straight away. Gives me time to save up I suppose!
What’s the rough cost of Arthramid?

 

[Michen]

I meant to add, I have mine seen by a vet VERY regularly. This year it's been more than I'd aim for as I had some hoof x rays done etc, but in general I will aim to have him looked at every 3 months at a minimum.

This may seem excessive but I want to make sure any change in lameness is caught quickly, so it doesn't affect other areas of him by going undetected for long periods of time.

I do think this is really important in something degenerative like arthiritis.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

The only thing my horse responded to was Osphos. Along with physio and careful exercise (no jumping, no trotting on roads etc). I only use hock boots when its cold and I prefer the Back on Track ones rather than magnetic.

 

[Tiddlypom]

What’s the rough cost of Arthramid?

IME £720 both hocks.

Lasts longer, less risky re laminitis etc cf steroids.

 

[Michen]

IME £720 both hocks.

Lasts longer, less risky re laminitis etc cf steroids.

I'm going to chat to my vet about this later. i think what put me off last time is that once you arthramid you can't then do anything else after if it doesn't work for whatever reason?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

IME £720 both hocks.

That’s really good, my Vets quoted me £700 per hock on Friday and that’s without xrays and the vets fees as well.

 

[hock]

IME £720 both hocks.

Lasts longer, less risky re laminitis etc cf steroids.

I was just about to ask about the laminitis- thank you.

 

[hock]

I'm going to chat to my vet about this later. i think what put me off last time is that once you arthramid you can't then do anything else after if it doesn't work for whatever reason?

Oh really? Why can’t you use other treatments after? I’m not quite there with my older horse just doing the homework.

 

[SEL]

I'm going to chat to my vet about this later. i think what put me off last time is that once you arthramid you can't then do anything else after if it doesn't work for whatever reason?

I did steroids first. She felt incredible for 2 weeks but they wore off so quickly that by the time the vet came out for something else after a month or so she was back to moving like she had a wooden left leg again. My friend had steroids at about the same time and her teenage TB is back out competing with no further issues. No idea if its the level of bone damage or something specific to the horse that means steroids wear off quickly in some situations but I think your vet was right to start with steroids and see how Boggle responds and then use gel as the next step.

Just for the OP I've also found I really, really need to keep on top of hoof balance in her hinds and be generous with the bodywork.

 

[Pinkvboots]

My horse had slight changes in his hocks about 3 years ago his 16 now he was given steroid and osphos then but no other treatment since, he sometimes comes out a bit stiff but walks it off really quickly his fed boswellia and msm and I have found this combo better than a general joint supplement and I have tried a few.

I warm him up by walking for a good ten minutes especially when schooling I don't go fast on hard ground no trotting on roads, he was also diagnosed with navicular at the same time so he has got a fair bit going on, I took his front shoes off from the start and his been fine since although I am careful with him.

In very cold weather I often put some old fleecy travel boots on his back legs just before I ride to try and warm the legs I think it helps!

 

[Nicnac]

Eh? Where did you hear that?

My vet. Great for fetlocks/stifles though apparently. He's the expert not me

 

[Michen]

I did steroids first. She felt incredible for 2 weeks but they wore off so quickly that by the time the vet came out for something else after a month or so she was back to moving like she had a wooden left leg again. My friend had steroids at about the same time and her teenage TB is back out competing with no further issues. No idea if its the level of bone damage or something specific to the horse that means steroids wear off quickly in some situations but I think your vet was right to start with steroids and see how Boggle responds and then use gel as the next step.

Just for the OP I've also found I really, really need to keep on top of hoof balance in her hinds and be generous with the bodywork.

Thanks SEL makes sense. It was actually the tildren that seemed to really help Bog, so I may do that before anything else.

Also forgot to add OP, I too feed MSM. No idea if it works or not but give it to both my horses as a matter of course now.

 

[Fluffypiglet]

I also got told Arthramid not ideal for hocks and we're going to book in for Tildren as per advice of vet. He's had 2x steroids to date with first lot lasting for about 7/8mths before becoming sore again. I am also going to buy some warm hock boots for winter and probably start a supplement at some point. Tbh I don't totally understand the differences in tx other than repeating steroids regularly probably isn't terribly good for them.

 

[Tiddlypom]

My vet. Great for fetlocks/stifles though apparently. He's the expert not me

Fair enough. Not my own or my vet's experience, though . Last gel hock jabs for mine done in Aug '20 in both horses, all still good.

One mare has also earlier had gel in both front coffins. That was the first and only time her coffins have been jabbed, the vet went straight to gel. Good result.

I checked with vet recently, gel is however not suitable for SI joint medication.

 

[Lammy]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! Definitely feeling a little less overwhelmed by his diagnosis.

I would eventually like to event him, probably only 80’s and would like to do some 90 BS eventually as he’s a bloody good, honest jumper. I hope this is still attainable given his age. But we’ll go with the flow and hopefully good, careful management will mean he can still do those things.

I have my first ride back on him this weekend and plan to just take it easy for a week and go for a little moochy hack but everything crossed he’ll feel more active and willing. The real test will be cantering in the school which is what made me get the vet in the first place.