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Discussion on Hock Injections
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Member:
Jennbk
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005 - 10:43 pm:
Okay, so I am learning how to use this! I need some advice on whether I should buy a good horse (expensive--7k) for showing who is safe but has to have his hocks injected every year. The owner says his hock are moderate in needing them and that he had never been lame, but just shows and moves better after they are injected. He is a 10 year old quarter horse gelding who gets shown every week in the summertime.
Thanks
Jennifer Kempton
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Member:
Suzeb
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Posted on Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005 - 11:00 pm:
Hello Jennifer,
What kind of showing do you have in mind for this horse?
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Member:
Jennbk
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 17, 2005 - 12:33 am:
English Equitation, Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure and maybe Hunter Hack.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 17, 2005 - 9:06 am:
The horse has DJD (chronic arthritis) in those hocks. If injection improves him then he is lame, it just may be so mild that they do not recognize it. For more on this see the article associated with this forum, it has a subtopic on this and a link to a more detailed article.
This is just one factor in determining if this horse might be able to achieve your goals. You should involve a veterinarian you trust who can examine the horse in this decision, for more on this see, Care for Horses » Particular Situations & Procedures » Prepurchase Exam of the Horse.
DrO
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 17, 2005 - 10:37 am:
We have a gorgeous, gentle, excellently trained Appendix QH here at the ranch who, according to the medical history I can find, has a hock that never fused properly. When I came to work here, I was told that he needed cortisone injections in his hock every six months . . . My vet told me that it would be a waste for me to do that, and that the first injection works well, but subsequent injections have less and less effect. The horse is presently on massive doses of glucosamine, but after three weeks, I see no difference. He does better with administration of bute. I haven't tried regular doses of Adequan, yet, and at this point, the horse is truly lame . . . and though he gets around really well at all gaits on his own, I would feel abusive if I even rode this horse at a walk on the flat. If I were buying a horse specifically for competition I would want a sound one, especially for 7K.
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