Stiff Hocks??? Stiff in rear? short strides and choppy HELP PLEASE!!

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madeperfectly007

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Hi Everyone,

Please help!!:(
I have a 14.2hh lightweight 9yr old cob. Never had an lamness or legs trouble "touch wood. I have been recieving lesson from a very experienced tutor. This afternoon once my lesson was finished i asked her if he was stiff in the behind as a judge commented on it once and was wondering about it. She told me he was stiff in his hocks, she also said he was short srtided and choppy in front. Possibly due to a front feet problem! I am totally panicking about this now! She said oil may help his hocks and x-rays maybe needed if thing dont improve in a couple of weeks. Does anyone have and similar problems or soultions. What oil, supplement etc is best recommended? Any exercise i could do? Would riding more help? Ive never had any trouble with him, lamness, refusing jumps, triping etc HELP :confused:
Anything would be much appreciated!
Thanks xx
 
First of all stop panicking. If I was you, I wouldn't lunge. Any stiffness in the hocks can be aggravated by small circles. However if you are concerned, I would get the vet to x-ray to confirm or rule out bone spavin in the hock. Supplements wise, I use Aviform Suppleaze Gold and cod liver oil for both my horses. The 21 year old has arthritis in hocks and knees and the mare has bone spavin in one hock. It would be better to find out early if there are changes going on in the hock as it's easier to start treatment if it's not too advanced. Hopefully it won't be, but it's better to find out than wonder about it! Good luck.
 
I agree with holly hocks re a spavin. Also, could it possibly be a back issue?
My vet though my boy had a spavin and it turned out he'd pulled his sacroiliac
 
There could be a number of things causing your horses choppiness etc or it may just be the way he is. Rather than worrying yourself silly and googling every ailment suggested, why dont you ask the vet to have a look at him. That way you should find out if there are any issues and if so, be able to treat them accordingly. Hopefully, its just the way he is and at least then you can forget about it and enjoy him.
Good luck and try not to worry.
 
There is too much going on there for us to throw ideas at, sorry. If you want to find out what is going on and get it sorted out if that is possible, you want a good vet and also a chat with your farrier about any ideas he has about the foot pain.
 
Ok am going to call vet first thing!
Just got a really big shock as never heard anything like this before, I was at a lynn russel master class, she said he had very clean hocks and nice front legs, but i supose this is different to stiffness. Just didnt expect anything like this! I mean she hadnt said anything previously it was just because i asked! Hes my baby dont want anythin to be wrong :(
 
Don't panic!!

At the moment you are just clutching at straws! Have your vet out and ask them to do a full lameness work up. They will then assess all four legs and see whether or not he is sound (or short) in any way. It may just be that your horse has a choppy stride - it is very common in cobs. The stiffness behind could just be a lack of suppleness. Don't be panicking about spavin etc at this point unless it is diagnosed properly.

Also - is your horse shod or barefoot? Does he need shoeing? Do you speak with your farrier regularly - if not do! If your 'tutor' says he has a front foot problem it could just be that his feet are out of balance, or even just need trimming!

Please don't leap to conclusions! It is not very professional of your 'tutor' to make so drastic unjustified and unquantified claims!!! Seek REAL professsional advice NOW!! If only to put your mind at rest!
 
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Stop worrying for a minute!! It's probably something very minor and most of us on this forum have had problems with stiffness, lameness, endless injuries and illnesses. It's possible that the front end lameness is linked to the hind limb unsoundness. When my mare was being diagnosed with spavin, she was very short and choppy in front - probably due to balancing and carrying herself wrong at the back end. She has had one hock injection and some remedial farriery and is already better than she was. Never cured, but managed as best as possible. But that really is your worst case scenario. Now stop worrying until the vet has seen your horse!! x
 
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