Broken Bones in a Horse's Hock

The hock is a weight-bearing joint halfway down the hind leg of an equine. Although not as common as other hock problems, fractures can occur due to injury or disease.

  1. Causes

    • The hocks are susceptible to breaks when kicked by another horse. Self-inflicted injuries happen when a horse kicks out and its hock meets a solid object such as a cement wall in the stall. Diseases in subchondral bones, if not detected and treated early, can produce breaks in this joint.

    Diagnosis

    • Broken bones are serious but often repairable. A veterinarian may palpate the hind leg to pinpoint the lameness and will X-ray the hock to determine the extent of the fracture.

    Prognosis

    • Veterinarians use a Robert Jones bandage to splint the hind leg. This thick wrap stabilizes the injury, allowing it to heal.

    Recovery

    • Recovery includes six months of stall rest. The horse's caretaker must adjust its diet to compensate for lack of exercise and administer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As the horse's leg heals, its caretaker can hand-walk the horse until it is fully recovered. A veterinarian may also recommend physical therapy.

    Prevention

    • Horses are herd animals, but separating two dominant ones will prevent injuries.

      Separating horses that fight is a practical solution for preventing wounds and broken bones. Padding a cement stall wall is more cost-effective than treating the horse after it's been injured.