I SWEAR this is my last word on this subject (today).
Just did a quick search of the ridecamp archives and I'm alternating between panic and hope and have settled on "neutral" (assuming the issue is hocks...).
- First of all, it looks like a LOT of horses (arabs doing endurance) are being diagnosised with hock issues (bone spavin, "arthritis" etc.) at 10 years old. Farley just turned 11 in March, so it's not impossible that this has been a lowgrade issue over the last year. I guess I was worried that Farley was so young....I don't think of a horse as "older" until they are in their 20's. LOL.
- Farley is both sickle AND cow hocked which makes her more succeptible to hock issues.
- Farley was bred to race and did go to the track for training as a 2 or 3 year old (can't remember exactly). She was eventually sent out to pasture because she was too immature, but it's not hard to imagine that *some* damage resulted from her being ridden so young.
- For at least a year before I got her she was kept in a smallish stall/pen with limited exercise. Again, not ideal.....
Treatment and it's response is variable....
- Some people retired their horses rather than do injections (this was my choice with Minx - semi-retirement)
- Some improved with injections, some didn't
- Everyone seems to agree that if you are going to give injections, go to the very best to do them (I am doing this)
- Some people give injections and call them "servicably sound" and retire them from enduance.
- If it's hocks, the best thing to do is ride ride ride. In fact people talk about their vets "ordering" them to continue to go to endurance rides. LOL. Obviously this depends on the treatment working well enough to make the horse comfy.
- The hocks can take a long time to fuse/not fuse at all/or fuse and still cause pain (not sure if the latter case is more likely with injections or not).
Bottom line: Every horse is different and treatment should be discussed between owner and vet. There are no gaurentees, but it's also a common thing and chances are we will be able to find something that we are both comfortable with and will let her continue her job. It's not necessarily anything I did or didn't do, especially if this problem has been brewing for the last year or so, although I'm DEFINATLY going to be asking the vet direct questions abot how my exercise and rest regieme influenced it! (and learn and make adjustments accordingly).
I shall keep you posted!
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
I shall not post any more OCD posts today.
Posts
Mel? Is that a post up above? *LOL* You crack me up :)
ReplyDelete~E.G.
What post? *looks around* I don't see a post. :) Ok, so I need to work on my self control. I've just instituted the 24 hour rule so NO MORE OCDing UNTIL AFTER VET APPOINTMENT
ReplyDeleteMany of the highest mileage horses have fused hocks. Tulip, Zayante, etc.
ReplyDeleteUntil you know for sure what it is, don't spend so much time worrying about it.
Once you know, then you can worry :).
I fight with hock issues every day and my arab in 10 years old. We have had one round on hock injections and I am not considering the second round. I think it is part of the having a sport horse and I think that we don't like to talk and/or think about it.
ReplyDeleteLh- I think you are right. Although in this months EN there is a article on hock injections in the vet section so now I wonder if I just overlooked it? But really-if it's as common as I'm starting to think it is, then not very many people are talking about it!
ReplyDeleteLh-I'd love to have your insight on the injections as a desenting view....did they not work or are you disconting for other reasons? I know it's important to go to someone who's GOOD at them which is why I'm going to different vet tomorrow.
I love having this blog. Since I post in real time it's really about the good, the bad, and the ugly of what I do.
One of the biggest questions I have for the vet is "was this inevitable or was there something I should have done different?". I'm all calmed down now so it's probably a good thing I had a couple of days to calm down!