Hind Leg Problems in Horses

horses will improve and then relapse. Many horses improve after being worked lightly and will be sound enough to be ridden.
Bog Spavins
Bog spavins are caused by wear on the hock joint or an impact on the joint causing injury like a kick. Conformation problems and mineral deficiencies may also cause bog spavins. Bog spavins feel like a spongy soft swelling around the hock. If they are caused by an impact injury only one hock will be affected. If both are involved the bog spavin is probably caused by a conformation fault that places strain on both hock joints.
Bog spavins can be unsightly when large but many horses perform well despite them. If the strain causing the spavin causes undue wear on the joint pain and lameness can occur. The excess fluid that causes the spavin can be drained by a veterinarian but may reoccur
Bone Spavins
Bone spavins are proliferative bone growth on the hock caused by joint strain repeated concussion on hard surfaces and confirmation problems. Horses like jumpers and reiners are susceptible to bone spavins. The hock joint is made of several bones and one or more of these bones can become affected.
As hock flexibility is decreased the horse may drag its hind toes and the stride is shortened. This causes the horse pain and can result in arthritis 3 Most treatments are of minimal effectiveness. Eventually the bones will fuse. Horses will be sound but corrective shoeing may be required
Jack Spavins
Jack spavins are bone spavins that appear on the inside of the hock joint 4 The bony growth pushes against a tendon which causes pain and makes the horse step short dragging the toe of its back hoof.
Thoroughpins
Thoroughpins are caused when the tendon in the upper rear hock area becomes inflamed. The swelling is visible as a bulge on either side of the top of the hock joint 3 A bog spavin sits slightly lower. Treatments are aimed at decreasing the swelling. Rest cold hosing topical sweats and draining are some of the treatments that may help.
Capped Hocks
Capped hocks are large fluidfilled swellings on the points of the hock. They can be caused by impacts and from lying on a hard floor. Thicker bedding may help alleviate the problem. Similar swellings can occur on the horses elbows. The horse is unlikely to be lame 5 The swelling can become quite pronounced. Treatments include cold hosing steroids and drainage. Most resolve themselves
to some extent without treatment and they are unlikely to affect a horses performance.
Curbs
Curbs are inflammations of the upper hind area of the rear cannon bone. They are caused by an impact such as a kick that strains the plantar tarsal ligament. Slight lameness may accompany the swelling. Cold packs and rest are recommended for acute cases 3 Some fluid may remain but a horse with curb can usually heal well with no lingering lameness.