Horses and capped hocks

If not treated in time, this kind of swelling can ruin a show horse’s career, warns Kim Dyson.

Horses and capped hocks
- Advertisement -

My heart sinks into my shoes when I see a floppy, ball-like swelling over the point of the hock or sometimes the elbow. This is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the bursa between the flexor tendon and the skin. If not treated timeously, this kind of swelling can ruin a beautiful show horse’s career.

Owners can be forgiven for thinking the swelling is an indication of weakness in the joint, but this is not the case. The wall of the bursa thickens and forms a hard, tough tissue because of low-grade inflammation, creating a ‘capped hock’. A horse that kicks the walls or is unstable in a horse box is a candidate for capped hocks.

I have also noticed that horses made to sleep on bad bedding tend to develop capped hocks.

- Advertisement -

When a capped hock first appears it has the usual signs of inflammation: heat, tenderness and swelling. Most horses show lameness, too, at this stage. However, as time goes on, the hock becomes ‘cold’ and there is no pain. It is my opinion that when a capped hock has settled, it usually does not interfere with the normal function of the horse’s hock joint. Some horses, however, can be left permanently lame because of the swelling.

Prevention
Since capped hocks can be caused by kicking, they are not entirely preventable. But there are ways to lessen the chances of your horse developing a capped hock. The first is to understand your horse’s temperament. If it dislikes other horses, or is bored or frustrated, you can manage the problem. If your horse is a wall kicker, line the stable with conveyor belting. If you do not have access to this, fill old feed bags with unused hay and fix to the wall with a thin wooden plank.

If the animal is kicking the wall because it dislikes one of its neighbours, try separating the two. If you know which horses have formed a bond, arrange them according to their own preferences. Horses have a personal space of 7m, and many are aggressive towards others that come too close – a problem that often occurs in stables where personal space overlaps constantly.

If the kicking occurs around feeding time, feed your horse in a small paddock. I know this is not always possible, and I have found that hanging the feed bucket over the door can also reduce the horse’s instinct to protect its feed. When travelling, no matter how short the trip, use boxing boots that go up over the hocks, and make sure that you travel at a responsible speed. Horses that have to deal with sharp gear changes and sudden braking can hurt their hocks trying to balance themselves.

Treatment
If you allow the hock to heal, the result will be only a cosmetic flaw. Hydro therapy or cold hosing helps reduce the inflammation and limit swelling in the early stages of the injury. I find hot compresses of comfrey and stinging nettle particularly effective. Crush or bruise the comfrey leaves, add a handful of dried stinging nettles, place on a sheet of cotton wool, and pour boiling water over the compress – just enough to dampen the cotton wool.

Allow to stand until warm to the touch. Then apply it to the capped hock, keeping it in place for 20 minutes. Another remedy is to mix 50ml rose water and 50ml witch hazel. Place in ice trays and freeze, then crush and place in a wet cloth. Hold and move over the hock until melted. Repeat three times a day for five days. This helps draw the fluid back into the body.

Phone Kim Dyson on 082 888 6511