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Discussion on Overflexion of the hock
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Member:
Isabe
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Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 4:38 am:
Dear Dr. O',
There is a horse in my stable who suddenly started to overflex one hock by galopping.
In italian we called this "arpeggio" and is normally observed at walk and trot, not at galop.
Somebody told the owner it should be arthrosis, but it seems to me a bit strange. Normally horses with arthrosis to the hock reduce the flexion istead of increasing it.
What do you think about it?
Thank you very much for your feedback.
Regards
Isabella
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 7:40 am:
Hello Isabella,
I am not familar with the term "arpeggio" is reference to horses. Are you talking about the disease called "Stringhalt" (see Equine Diseases » Lameness » Diseases of the Upper Rear Limb » Stringhalt)? If so the article has a description along with a list of possible diseases that are confused with it.
DrO
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Member:
Isabe
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Posted on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 7:08 am:
Dear DrO,
Thank you very much for your reply. Yes, what I meant is Stringhalt. I read the article and in fact what was known to me is that this problem is normally more evident at walk than at trot and canter. In this case the problem increases drammatically at canter and is not present at walk. As I can understand this has nothing to do with arthrosis, which has a complete different type of lameness. Am I wrong?
Thank you for your feedback.
Best regards
Isabella
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 7:30 am:
As long as we both mean the same thing when you say "overflex the hock" I agree that this would not be a typical presentation for a arthrosis and would concentrate on the list of rule outs presented in the article on Stringhalt.
DrO
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 3:56 pm:
Isabella,
Are you sure that this overflexion is involuntary?
There are several reasons for a horse to purposely overflex the hock, like too tight a girth or annoying rider's legs/spurs.
Some horses will try to "step" over the girth if you crank it up too fast / tight.
We have a mare that will successfully kick your heel off her side if you push her too much. At any gait, that is, and with no other complaint/ misbehaving.
Behavioural issues like these have to be differentiated from stringhalt, which is clearly involuntary.
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Member:
Isabe
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Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - 5:17 am:
Hi Christos,
Sorry for answering only today, I have not checked the site for a while. I think the iperflexion is involuntary. I have not seen the horse for two weeks now (is not mine) but he has never done it before. What surprised me is what vet diagnosed: arthrosis. I saw many horses suffering from arthrosis and no one acted like this. I also wonder how a vet can diagnose arthrosis wihout X-ray.
Thank you for your input.
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