Page 115 - 2021 Barrel Stallion Register

than others. “If we see a problem in one hock, we definitely want to check the other one because these conditions can be bilateral, just at different extents,” she explains.
“If an OCD fragment is removed, then afterward we may put in a biologic product like IRAP to help heal those—to help the joint surface improve and ultimately have fewer problems on down the road,” says Rudolphi.
Other injuries may be due to a simple blunt trauma or a puncture if the young horse runs into something while running around the pas- ture. “In the older horses with hock changes we may see a narrowing of the joint due to arthritic changes. Some of this could be due to how they were used as a young horse (how much stress on the joints in an athletic career). If those early problems are not seen and addressed, there
may be some cartilage weakening later on and arthritic changes later in life,” she says.
Some hock problems may be due to confor- mation, and how straight or angled the hind leg is, and which stresses are put on the hock joint. “Poor hoof management and shoeing can also have repercussions on up the leg. Sometimes arthritic hocks are simply due to overwork and overuse, with lots of wear and tear.”
Fortunately, there are many treatments today that can help. “We have several types
of therapeutic modalities that can be used if we know there are changes going on, and if there is pain in the joint. We also use a variety of biologics like IRAP, stem cells and PRP
to help improve the joint environment and
to manage or decrease the pain and damage. The world of biologics is constantly evolving; therefore, we are able to continually provide more effective and successful modes of treat- ment,” she explains.
Sometimes with these horses it may be time to find a new job if the hock joints can’t stay sound in a strenuous athletic career. “Horses that have been racing can be hard on high mo- tion joints such as the hocks. They may need a different job for a while. Also, within the hock, some of the small bones can fuse together and sometimes this can decrease the pain the horse experiences. This is not always the case but is possible. Ideally the horse upholds its normal joint space and function,” says Rudolphi.
With some hock problems it’s wise to moni- tor the changes and take radiographs annually. “This can help guide your management of these horses; your management will probably change over time. If you have been treating the hock condition, it may become non-responsive to that particular treatment and you may have to try something else or add in a different anti- inflammatory or joint therapy,” she explains.
There are some topical approaches such as shock wave therapy or magna waves. “These can be a useful secondary therapy, as well as making sure the horse is on a good exercise and condi- tioning program. It is helpful to keep the hind end strong so the horse can maintain adequate functional muscle mass. If the muscles, tendons and ligaments are strong and correctly condi- tioned, there is less risk for damage,” she says.
Shoeing can also make a major difference. Shoeing can help or hinder a hock problem, so you want to make sure you have a good farrier who can keep the feet well balanced. “Some- times we have to take radiographs of those feet to make sure we have them balanced in the hind end. We sometimes miss that when look- ing at the hind feet. If there is an imbalance or incorrect angle on the hind feet, it puts more
stress on the hock joints,” Rudolphi explains. If the hind feet are not balanced, both the joint and soft tissue structures surrounding the hock will be stressed. There may be some soft tissue tears on the ligaments around the hock. These can also be due to abnormal work or strain.
Joint health is very important in the equine athlete, and many people use joint supplements to try to help protect the joints from wear-and- tear damage. “Some types of joint supplements are fed (added to the grain ration) and some are injected intravascularly or intramuscularly. Horses are all a little bit different in terms of what they respond to, and what works best, for these complementary therapies,” she says.
Basically the things that can happen to the hock joints in a young horse are osteo- chondral fragments (chips) in the upper tibial tarsal joint, inflammation in any of the three joints for a variety of reasons (generally related to exercise), associated soreness of the proximal suspensory apparatus (as part of the functioning unit of the hock) and collateral ligament injuries. Some of these injuries may be due to conformation (putting more stress on certain parts of the joint) or just an occa- sional bad step.
EQUINE HEALTH
“Fatigue-related problems might include subchondral bone disease and a breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. When that happens, we have to manage these horses for arthritis.”
Topical treatments include shock wave therapy.
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