Hock Injections

Question
Dear Lana,A couple of weeks ago I called our vet to look at my 9 year old Appendix Quarter Horse because his stall kicking was getting progressivly worst and he began to act like he wasn't physically able to do the work that he sould hve been able to do.My horse gets ridden about six days a week and a little bit over an hour a day.Since he is a hunter,my trainers and I have been asking him for a much more collected and slower canter,this requires him to sit on haunches more.Just before the vet told me that his tendons in the left back ankle were irritated from the stall kicking,myhorse's work schedule became moreintense because he was getting so good.When the vet told me that it was essential to get him to stop kicking or else the injury would become permenant.After three the vet came back to check up on my horse and said that his ankle was as good as new but the hock in his right hind leg was going to need an injection.Apparently,when we were haveing trouble with him when his work schedule intensified it was his hock that was really bothering him.since I've owned him my horse has never once been lame.He is a very willing horse and he loves his job.My question is:Can a horse who has a hock injection go back to doing what he was doing before the injection(and in my horse's case before the injury)?If the answer is yes,I do understand he will have to be gradually worked up to his old schedule, right?He can stil jump and everything,right?He and I went up to 3'3" once.From,Whitney

Answer
Hi Whitney;

The intention of the hock injection will be to relieve inflammation and pain, and depending on what is injected, it may also be to repair the consistancy of the joint fluid.

This should immediately make him sounder, HOWEVER, if you don't address the real issue (what caused the pressure on the hock), the problem will return.

I suggest the following:

Closely examine his oconformation.  His breed often is straight behind, long through the back, sometimes downhill built, lowish neck sets etc...  All these things can take a toll on the hocks.

Closely examine his feet.  Are they balanced?  Or does he have long toes, low heels, or underrun heels.  Are his feet level side to side for his leg conformation?  Does he land with both heels first?  Does he twist his hock at all as he pushes off his feet?

Have a chiropractor go over him head to toe.  A misalignment in his neck can create pressure on the hocks.  But I suspect he's not quite right through his back, loin and hindquarter since only one hock is affected.  The right hock is taking on too much pressure, so there's likely a weakness on the left hind.  A massage therapist would also be helpful pinpointing areas of soreness.

Make sure his saddle fits.  If it pinches this can put pressure on the hocks.

Make sure you don't have a natural lean or collapse a hip, making him have to compensate for your unevenness.

Lastly, depending on what you discover about your horse, you may have to change your training program.  This doesn't necessarily mean you can't jump him, it might mean though that your 6 days a week, goes to 4 days a week, or your hour rides become 45min. rides.  It may mean you only jump once a week instead of 3 times.  Or that you do hacking hillwork twice a weak.  Or you slow down with your collection work.

Best wishes!

Sincerely,

Lana Reinhardt
www.eq-paradise.com