A horse's hock consists of 11 bones, ligaments and joints several different bursa four. The tendons pass over and insert through the hock. This structure is complicated and arthritis prone chronic lameness. Hock arthritis affects horses of all ages, including horses less than one year old. Exercise routine can help reduce pain, prevent joint damage and maintaining a healthy weight.
Walk
Walking increases circulation, which is also a natural inflammatory. Chronic inflammation of the joints can lead to joint surface and cartilage deterioration, thickening of the joint capsule and the breakdown painful joint fluid, as Janice Posnikoff, DVM. Walking your horse in a pasture or meadow involving a couple of hours will increase blood flow to the joints, limber legs up and help prevent further damage. The horse may be hard at first, but after a few minutes of walking, the horse will get warm.
Riding
Daily rides his horse keeps joints flexible and is the best way to prevent and treat arthritis hock.The amount of riding and driving style depends on the conformation of the horse and foot. Foot hard rock is not good for the joints of the horse. A good base is easier on the joints. Exercise riding in a well kept field or trail riding. Not all parts of a track will be uniform, get off and walk on uneven terrain, and avoid the gallop or trot in these areas.
Water Treadmill
Exercise in water for horses with hock arthritis takes pressure off the joints and allows the horse to do more exercise than they could in a pasture. This is especially good for horses overweight, because excess weight puts more pressure on the joints. Aquatic therapy can be customized for each horse through variable water heights, speeds of the treadmill and water temperature, according to Circle Equine Back Specialists farm performance of the Rocky Mountains. The treadmill water uses hydrokinetic exercise facilitated by own natural movement of the horse in a slip, water treadmill solid surface.
Hand Exercise
Older horses with hock arthritis may get stiff from inactivity. Simple exercises for the hand manipulation can be done to get the blood flow and the movement of the joint. This is also good for horses to experience the pain of arthritis.
