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 Veteran
Posts: 246
 
Location: Idaho | I know nothing about and have no experience with fusing hocks. Ive had it suggested to me by someone who works on my horse that she has a hock that is or could be fusing. I havent had any xrays or anything done at this point she isnt lame but I wanted to see what causes it, how it can be slowed down (if possible) and maintained, from people who have been there. Thanks! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
 
Location: North Dakota | TSlashO - 2014-07-17 4:27 PM I know nothing about and have no experience with fusing hocks. Ive had it suggested to me by someone who works on my horse that she has a hock that is or could be fusing. I havent had any xrays or anything done at this point she isnt lame but I wanted to see what causes it, how it can be slowed down (if possible) and maintained, from people who have been there. Thanks!
I wish I would have x-ray'ed my horse Red last year. His right hock has been fusing for a loooooong time and he was not showing huge red flag signs of it. We injected him this year and I have a new horse.  He feels fantastic!! I wish I would have done it sooner.
If there is any question, go pay the money to have the x-rays done. Then you'll know.
If the hocks are fusing, once they are done fusing, the pain is gone and there really is no more need for injections. So you DON'T want to slow it down. You want it to finish, so its done!
Some horse's fuse naturally; some don't. Some people force their horse's hocks to fuse (using alcohol treatments, some by actually drilling through the joint).
It's very manageable.
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Veteran
Posts: 246
Location: Idaho | Thanks! This is helpful! I was kinda under the assumption that fusing was a bad thing that needed to be slowed down... I couldnt find a lot of straight forward info on google, so this helps to cut to the chase. :) |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | I have a filly that's been cross firing in the back and I believe her hocks may be fusing, I haven't brought her to my performance vet yet I'm hoping it's just her still learning to get on her correct back leads before the barrels, I can't justify injecting a 4 year old but if it's what she needs then so be it. I've not ran her hard and it seems like my 11 year old never had those issues I didn't inject him until he was 8!!!!! |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | RnRJack - 2014-07-18 8:53 AM I have a filly that's been cross firing in the back and I believe her hocks may be fusing, I haven't brought her to my performance vet yet I'm hoping it's just her still learning to get on her correct back leads before the barrels, I can't justify injecting a 4 year old but if it's what she needs then so be it. I've not ran her hard and it seems like my 11 year old never had those issues I didn't inject him until he was 8!!!!!
If your horse is fusing, she's fusing. She's in pain. You need to help her, or turn her out for a year or two (which is not feasible for most people).
The most recent "expert" vet I took my horse to this week told me that my horse's right hock probably had changes at BIRTH. Nothing to do with how hard he was ridden (which he wasn't) for the massive amount in his right hock at the age of 8, when he wasn't even really ridden until the age of 6.
Some horse's bodies just decide to fuse, regardless of how much work the body does. It has nothing to do with age either.
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Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | Yah I plan on taking her next week I've just never had one that's showing signs this early, he usually blocks them first to see if it makes a difference and has me ride her, should I have them xrayed to make sure though? I'm okay with doing it if that's what needs to be done |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Id xray just to see whats going on..although my gelding was xrayed and he didnt show alot of changes but..he flexed off bad and when we injected it was clear.. no synovial fluid so he needed it.. but he was 8 and sore.. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| RnRJack - 2014-07-18 8:53 AM
I have a filly that's been cross firing in the back and I believe her hocks may be fusing, I haven't brought her to my performance vet yet I'm hoping it's just her still learning to get on her correct back leads before the barrels, I can't justify injecting a 4 year old but if it's what she needs then so be it. I've not ran her hard and it seems like my 11 year old never had those issues I didn't inject him until he was 8!!!!!
I learned that malnourishment before the age of two can cause early arthritis. |
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