Thoughts? :(

arwenplusone said:
Well, Your OH putting his head in the sand about this is NOT going to make it go away.

If the horse is lame he is likely in pain.
Get a vet to look at him - you may find he has something fixable. It could be arthritis/spavin - if so it is treatable. If not then at least you can manage his pain.

Many horses (mine included) have competed upto & beyond discovery after having hocks treated for spavin.

But you will get nowhere ignoring it I'm afraid. Get him x-rayed.
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This ^^^

No point being all doom and gloom about something you don't exactly know much about, it could be something that hopefully can be sorted or at least improved, not only that surely it's worth having it looked into for the sake of your horses comfort even if he'll only be a light hack.

Chin up and good luck with it.

Etd. to say, sorry just seen your other post re update.

What exactly did the vets say then?
 
kirstie said:
Well he doesn't sound quite right, would be interesting to see how he looks after flexions.

Hope you get it sorted and it's nothing serious.
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Please, please dont do flexion tests, they do untold damage and on an older horse always show lameness, they prove nothing and make the horse even more uncomfortable. Good luck with the vet FH.
 
Flexions done and he couldn't walk on either.

Vets said almost definitely chronic arthritis, nerve blocks on Thursday and then steroid injections will give him a year, maybe two. Xx
 
My mare was like that last summer, really stiff behind, not coming close to tracking up in walk, willing and obedient but behind my leg, like riding through treacle.
My lovely vet did nerve blocks and x-rays and found out it was spavin. She has been treated and now we are jumping again, my instructor says she is going better than ever for dressage, we are planning a cross country sponsored ride in two weeks. Definitely get the vet. If nothing on x-rays was fixable vets wouldn't bother x-raying. If it is spavins (arthritis in one of the hock joints, there are three) there is a lot that can be done and your horse might well return to 'full athletic soundness' as my vet would say.
Good luck!
 
Just following this thread , sorry it's turned out to be arthritis , my old mare had it in her hocks and it soon travelled up into her back , at least now you know and can look forward in a more positive way and cherish your boy for as long as you can. I kept my mare at livery and as she was miserable every day I decided to PTS , ( she was 22 and had a full competition life ) which I got slatted by some people for at the time , at least I've got my own land now and can turn mine away if ness. best wishes...
 
flamehead said:
Update.

Frank has chronic arthritis in his hocks.
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My horse has arthritis (spavins) in both hocks. I always thought he was "just a bit stiff" until my farrier said he was struggling to shoe him and suggested getting the vet. Vet came out, said he was bilaterally lame behind and x-rayed, finding spavins in both hocks. I had just gotten used to him needing half an hour to warm up and he was really difficult to jump, some days he would and some days he wouldn't. I thought he was contrary! My vet medicated both hocks with steroids, he had 2 courses of Adequan and had his hocks medicated again 11 months later. He is now going better than ever and although he is due to have his hocks medicated again (it's nearly a year after the last lot), he doesn't actually look or feel like it's necessary. Before he was treated, he struggled to walk over a pole because he obviously hurt so much. Now he adores jumping and the vet says he moves like a 10yo behind, not a 16yo.

Get him on a good joint supplement - I use JointFX. You could also try feeding linseed, which is supposed to be fantastic for arthritis (get big sacks from Charnwood Milling, or small bags from Barefoot Basics if you only want to try it), as well as rosehips and turmeric.
 
flamehead said:
He's not lame, he's just overly stiff. If he were lame every time we would be having the vet out every time. He'll be absolutely fine tomorrow!! Just back to his usual totally bizarre walk. Xxxx
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Mine has had collateral ligament damage to both front coffin joints and also OCD in both of his stifles which they operated on. Due to this he is stiff behind and also quite choppy. I would definitely get the vet to do some tests to find the problem. After surgery and box rest etc. I started using cosequin supplement which helped. I was then introduced to a natural supplement called superfix, this has a natural bute in it to help the inflamed bits and also 'oil' his joints. I am pleased to say he is now sound in walk and trot ridden, and cantering, bucking, galloping etc in the field - we aren't up to canter work yet lol!!

I would speak to the vet first tho, but the superfix I use is the sportsmax version. Due to the severity of my horse's issues he will never be an eventer and probably never jump again, but this supplement has helped brilliantly.
 
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