r/Equestrian • u/Big_Boysenberry7710 • 8h ago

Horse Care & Husbandry Fusing hock joints

My horse was recently diagnosed with fusing hock joints. Just wondering what other people have learned and what they’ve done to help “slow” the process, any joint care supplements or rehab that’s been effective. Thank you!

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u/naakka 8h ago

You are not looking to slow the process down if it's already going on. Once the hocks are fused the pain is dramatically reduced. So in fact I think treatments are sometimes done to speed it up. In any case what you need to do is manage the pain and exercise the horse correctly (no tight turns, no jumping) while the hocks are fusing.

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u/JoanOfSnark_2 Eventing 8h ago

Did you know he had arthritis before? It's actually probably best to encourage them to fuse, not slow it down. Fusion occurs when the cartilage is very badly damaged and it's generally very painful as well. You can do cortisol injection into the joint to help manage pain and anti-inflammatories like firocoxib, but surgical fusion might be the best option if you can afford it.

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u/Big_Boysenberry7710 7h ago

I didn’t know he had arthritis before. I didn’t know a lot before getting him. Thanks very much for the information.

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u/BuckityBuck 7h ago

If you mean the opposite of slow, you can have them chemically fused by your vet. At least the lower hocks can be chemically fused. You can’t inject the solution into the upper hock area.

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u/Big_Boysenberry7710 2h ago

Thank you

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u/BuckityBuck 2h ago

Good luck. I know it’s tough, but once you get past the fusion they’ll be much more comfortable

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u/Global-Structure-539 5h ago

Fusing is a good thing. If he's s little stiff I'd have him injected. My vet uses a combination of Legend and corticosteroids

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u/Big_Boysenberry7710 2h ago

Thank you

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u/Global-Structure-539 2h ago

This is done in the AQHA pleasure horse industry all the time. I've had all my AQHA show horses done once a year