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I just want to thank you all again for the wonderful advise......some things I have tried and some things I am just now going to try. Truly amazes me the response I got from you....I guess it doesn't matter where we live, how old we are....we all have that one thing in common....we all love our horses! Buffy

Buffy, I have an eight year old thoroughbred mare I compete on in jumping. She started having bad problems with her two hands, she had ringbone on both. Vet told me I would never be able to ride her again. I decided to get her in foal and let her rest out in the open for two years. She gave me a beautiful foal! nature has a way of healing horses... I am jumping with her again...at the same time, I put her on an incredible product called Rapid Response, you can check it out at www.amerdon.com. It works miracles. Don´t give up, let her be free for a while and heal herself and get detoxed from everything and everybody....good luck. Irlanda

Hey Buffy. I'm an equine/human bodyworker. Keep the horse out and do not stable. Lack of movement will make the issue much worse as horses are meant to move, need the circulation for blood and joint fluid. See if you can find an ART practitioner in your area(www.activerelease.com) or another bodyworker as the horse will compensate in other areas to protect the hock. You have to keep the other 3 legs going! Injections are very good, I have had phenomenal results with shockwave with my own horse. Have a good leg vet give you directions in how to take care of her. Cold water on the hock after exercise is wonderful also.

Hi Buffy, If your horse is showing signs of arthritis its best to do a few things..If you have a good vet in your area have them 1st make sure that problem is that and not a bog spavin etc..if you inject the joint you need someone that knows where and what to inject..most likely they will suggest a cortizone and Hylaronic acid combo..second if you can have your horse somewhere that can feed a supplement that has glucosomine,msm, Hylaron and yucca.(SELECT has a great line of products you may want to consider).this will help prolong the number of times you'd have to have the hocks injected.3rd, alot of hock problems are secondary to back problems,so msm will also assist with mucsles.. And of course exercise is also important in maintaining..so, ideally if you can find a place that will turn out daily and feed supplements this would also help.. I understand that costs can influence how much that can be done, but arthritis especially in the colder climates can be very debilitating.. I know the costs of injecting can be very costly, so you may want to start with the supplements first and see how your horse makes out..If you need to locate a feedmill or feed store in your area that carries the Select products, feel free to contact me on here and I'll locate one in your area for you..I board 2 of my horses with the canadian distributor of the Select products and could easily find out that information for you.. I have my show mares both on the select products and my yearling on the vitamins..They are amazing products.. Both bute and cortisone are great solutions for the short term, but can cause more problems in the long run with stomach and bone problems. Best of luck to you and your horse :) Also, there is another product called Rapid response that I've heard alot about but never used..you may want to look into that as well..

Glad your not giving up..

Hi Karen When I say I am going to stable her, she would be getting better care than she will be if I leave her where she is now. Where she is now, the fellow will throw her and his horse some hay, but ...he sure won't take the time to give her extra stuff in with the hay. He's a workaholica...goes to work early and comes home late and dark. He hasn't ridden his horse for 3 years so...you can tell he is not a horse lover! If it was his dog ....different story! He tells me to get rid of my horse and get another one..because with winter the arthritis will get worse, etc, etc. So...that is why I'm thinking if I kept her at an outdoor stable...she would at least get better care and supervision if she gets down and can't get up. Also...then I would get her on some glaucosomine and they would give it everyday. See where I am coming from??? No...I'm not going to give up...we been thru a divorce together and she is my 'lil buddy and God knows you can't have enough 'lil buddies! Right????!!!! LOL Buffy

Id have her hocks injected . or laser the area. stabling her 24/7 will not be good for her at all. physically or emotionally. Id keep giving her bute if riden hard that day and I would think that when the mare gets fed someone could drop a scoop of cosequin or something in the feed for you. dont give up on her though. Theres also soem homopathic meds that could help and if you want I can talk to the lady I know that is more informed on the Homapathic meds. good luck karen

Tks Mimi and Hoss for your input.... I have been using a liniment of some sort...nor sure if it helped, but hoping that it did give her some relief. Hoss I will watch the front diagonal leg...very good point! I will also contact the Dr Doyle... Thank you all so much for your input...it has given me some hope. Up to now...I have been thinking of selling/giving her to a good home. Like I said I am afraid of her getting down and not being able to get up on her own. But...I am also considering putting her in a stable (and getting a part time job to pay for that extra expense....boy what we have to do for our loved ones, eh?) LOL ...smiles and happy trails to all...Buffy

one other thing Buffy, watch the diaganel front leg he's loading it more than normel and it could blow out, or it could have a problem that caused him to load the rear leg and cause the hock problem. Ole Hoss