So I think it is about that time, I have had three vets tell me my mare will probably need injections. I bought her in May and I was told to wait a while to see how she does with exercise, movement, new environment, feed and supplements (she's on formula 1 blue label). She has seen a chiro and an acupuncturist and has a good farrier.  I've had her for about 5 months and she has packed on the muscle, has calmed down quite a bit, works great. I do use BOT hock wraps on her when it is not too hot, but she still has some soreness in her back and her hocks. I've been around horses for 30+ years and have never injected, I know it is like a common thing but it is a bit daunting for me. 

I am going on vacation in a couple of weeks and will be gone for a week and a half, she is set up to get injections for this Friday and I know there needs to be a little time off afterward. Has anyone ever injected and got a joint infection? Also, how many days off do you give? Will me going on vacation 2 weeks after injection mess it up at all? She is on pasture 24/7 although I will be putting her in a stall the first 24 hours afterward to monitor her and I guess for cleanliness purposes? 

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Second part of the question, 

My vet also said that her joints will start to fuse at one point (she does have some small bone spurs on both hocks) and I am super confused. Can you still run a horse while and after their hocks fuse? I remember seeing one horse with their hocks fused when I was a lot younger and the horse did not run like he used to, so I would like some clarification? Can they still run, and move around like normal? How does that work?

Inject her. She'll thank you for it! Typically, most vets seem to say to have 3 days off after injections along with giving them an anti-inflammatory such as bute.

Sometimes, injections don't 100% take care of the soreness (depends how much medication can get into the joint space, based on how far it is fused). So then you can also "supplement" with previcoxx/equioxx if needed.

Very common to have a "spur" during the fusion process but once it's fused completely, the spur is gone.

Yes, you can run/ride them while they are fusing and I've always understood that you WANT to use them. The more you use them, the more you will encourage that fusing to continue so it can finish.

Of course, I am referring to the LOWER joint of the hock joint that is normal for it to fuse, which is a non-motion joint. Of the lower joint, there is an upper space and a lower space. One or the other, or both, can be fusing at the same time or different times.

Hypothetically, once the joints are totally fused, the pain is gone and you no longer need to inject (nor could you get a needle in the joint space anyway to inject).

FYI, 2 of my 3 horses are currently fusing. I inject them when they need it. Total magic.

If she has spurs in her hocks joint injections will definitely make her more comfortable. Some horses, even though they have spurs, never fuse. Some partially fuse.

as far as leaving her after being freshly injected I wouldn’t unless someOne that knows what to look for can check her. Joint infections can build slowly. Since there’s cortisone in the injection usually they don’t show up quickly and can take 10 -12 days to gradually show up.

Thank you!! I decided to wait to inject her until after I get back from my vacation, I feel like it is too much of a risk for her to get injected then me leave for 10 days. I appreciate your opinion on that!  

And that is super interesting on fusing, gives me a different view! My vet was telling me she would need a year off once she starts to fuse, I was like.. whaat? lol Maybe I misunderstood what she told me, I was super confused!