Talk to me about the varying management of arthritis in hock

[lj0429]

So I have found a hack/hobby horse however I have been told it has arthritis in one hock - yet to see xray, but is fine for hacking possibly hunting just not jumping on sharp turns. Currently not on any medication or treatment and occured 18months ago.

Obviously if I proceed my interest I will get a vets advice.

Members for the forum if you have any experience of arthritis in the hock, please share the good, bad and ugly in view of a hack/occasional hunt.

Thanks in advance

 

[Casey76]

Would depend on if the arthritic changes are in the upper hock joints or the lower.

If the upper, I wouldn’t buy. If the lower it would depend on if the joints have fused or not, or if there is any recent osteogenic activity visible on X-ray. I still wouldn’t hunt a horse with hock spavin, as working on uneven and/or boggy ground is going to aggravate the joint.

 

[spacefaer]

We have a hunter who has hock arthritis in both joints.
He hacks all year round and hunts 3xmonth.
He's had steroid injections for the last few years and has just had his first arthramid injection as the steroids were working for decreasing amounts of time.

He's absolutely fine - he doesn't ever go in the arena, either for schooling or lunging. He does fun rides too.

We monitor him but you really wouldn know on a daily basis

 

[HorseMaid]

Friend has a mare with arthritis in one hock. She does not school, ever, but mare is a very useful and fun happy hack - she did get a bit sore when we went on a fun ride a while ago so those are probably out, but she has a useful and fun life as she is. It was injected in the past, but now doesn't get anything except a joint supplement, it was xrayed last year which showed it has nearly fused.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

My Connie aged 13 has hock arthritis worse in one than the other. He no longer goes in the school, is never ridden in circles or jumps higher than 60cm. He has Cartrophen jabs every 12 weeks and is perfectly sound. I wouldn’t let him go hunting even though he loves it and I’m careful with him on hard ground. Other than that he hacks, loves a good fast canter and goes on fun rides regularly.

 

[spotty_pony]

It will depend on the severity of it but if it has nit yet been medicated and is sound and doing well that is a plus point.. although how you will tell whether it has or hasn't been medicated would be my main concern, not sure whether this would be picked up in bloods?

If the owners are being truthful, then I would say hack/occasional hunt on good ground should be fine for the horse. Be mindful that the horse will need plenty of warm up time and cool off time, and consider feeding a good joint supplement. Allow the horse as much turnout as possible to prevent stiffness. If the time comes and he needs medicating it is a fairly simple and common procedure, costs around £100 per hock joint for standard steroid and depending how effective it is on the horse, will last either a year or possibly two years at best. My Appy is medicated every two years and has been since he was 13 - he is now 22!