Helping Your Horses Hocks
Hocks,
Also known the Tarsus, made of four basic joints, a slew of little bones, and a few ligaments. This point is the equivalent to the human ankle, and just like in humans is a commonly injured joint. The risk of hock injury and pain is even greater in horses that frequently work off their hind end, such as barrel racers, cutters, and hunter jumpers.
Over time, joints wear out and many of us are diagnosed with a bit of Arthritis. Injections may not always be the best choice as they often just mask pain making it easier for your partner to re-injure the joint. Rejuvenating lost nutrients in the body is always an essential part of healing even if you choose to go to injection root.
Joint Nutraceuticals
"A nutraceutical is a food or naturally-occurring dietary supplement with medical benefits. They have been shown to be effective for many equine issues, including OCD (Osteochondritis dissecans) and arthritis–where joint cartilage is involved."
Which Supplements to Try
- Glucosamine Chondroitin - SmartFlex® Senior Pellets ($38.95), Corta-Flx ($30.95) and Grand Flex($35.55)
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) - Conquer ($39.50)
- Glucosamine/chondroitin + HA supplements - SmartFlex® I Maintenance Powder ($22.95)
Chondrogen EQ ($34.95)
You can also try adding some herbs to your horses feed, the following herbs have been shown to be beneficial when dealing with hock arthritis.
- Devil's Claw
- Yucca
- White Willow Bark
- Curcumin / Tumeric
Hot/Cold Therapy
Don't underestimate the power of good old hot and cold therapy, especially when swelling is present. Acute problems are best treated with cold water and ice, while chronic injuries benefit from alternating between heat and cold. There are many boots out there such as this one.
For heat Therapy, you can use heating pads, hot towels or hot water bottles. I also recommend Back on Track Products for your horse and yourself.
Happy Riding!
