If your horse is not performing up to potential, the problem may be the hock joints. The hock joint is on the lower rear leg just below the stifle. Inflammation in this joint can cause a prolonged time in speed events, reduced stopping or turning abilities, knocking down rails, refusing jumps, or trouble picking up different leads. There are ten bones and four joints in each hock. However, most of the problems are related to inflammation of the two lower joints in the hocks. Many horses with hock pain may actually appear to be sore in the back because sore hocks cause the horse to put more pressure on the lower back. When watching the back end of a moving horse who has hock pain, many of these horses will appear to keep the back legs in toward the midline as they move and then stab them down in an outward direction just before they touch the ground. Also, when observed exercising in a circle, the affected leg usually has a shorter stride compared to the other leg when the affected leg is on the outside as the horse moves in a circle.

Some horses with hock problems will have a firm swelling on the inside of the hock joint. Also, some of these horses will show pain when you apply pressure with your fingers on the inside back area of the hock just below the joint. Horses that are sickle hocked or have their hindlimbs set close together are more likely to have hock problems than other horses. Some of these cases are very subtle and to determine the cause of the pain requires a careful exam by your vet and x-rays. Multiple treatments are available for arthritis of the hocks, including cortisone injections, so if your horse is not performing up to par, contact your local equine vet for an exam.