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Right rear paddle stemming from hocks

Horse Care
#1

I have a 12 y/o ottb. Raced nearly 70 times, only lameness I’ve had have stemmed from bad feet and abscesses. I noticed last week (after a week off) he was not quite right. Not lame, but not himself. Not willing to go forward within the gaits (you want me to trot forward? I’ll just canter. It’s easier). I call us hunters but I don’t jump much because I’m a chicken. The hack division is more my style. I take dressage lessons about 3X a month.

Chiro was out. She picked up on a slight ‘paddle’ right rear. He’s not showing any other signs of lameness - he’s not short stepping at all. No issues with the pelvic area, she’s pretty positive it’s stemming from the hock. Her and vet have a great working relationship and she’s communicated to the vet her findings. Vet travels from about an hour away (our local vet is good for spring vacs but has no eye for lameness. Doesn’t own an X-ray), and is coming out next Thursday. Going to X-ray even if the vet doesn’t think it’s needed, I figure if we X-ray and see something, great, if nothing is there I at least have a ‘baseline’ for future references.

I texted chiro to ask if I should keep working him lightly or give him the time off, and am awaiting a response. Can I hear any insight from anyone who has had similar issues? Or maybe some “it’ll be ok” jingles?

Thanks guys! It was pretty cathartic typing this out. I understand it’s pretty minuscule in the grand scheme of things but I want to do best by my horse.

#2

I think I know just what you’re describing. In mine, he gets the paddle behind on one side when he doesn’t articulate his hock properly, so instead of reaching under and forward with his stride, he kind of wings out to the side. That ends up making him short-strided behind on that one leg.

In his case, it’s actually a sign of SI issues. He had exactly this before he went off for a bone scan and got diagnosed (along with loads of other testing and veterinary work), and just came up with it again last week. It’s been 4 years since I rehabbed his SI ligament injury, and the vet hospital said he may need to be maintained with injections.

Note that mine is perfectly relaxed and happy to work, he just looks (and feels) funny. If left, it will cause worse problems. He’s also got some lower hock arthritis, and hocks will cycle with SI, so it’s possible your chiro is correct too, and it’s both.

#3

You hit the nail on the head. Did you end up having to send your horse to Guelph for a diagnoses?

#4

I did in 2015 before we knew what we were dealing with. This time, my vet and I had already seen it so we knew what was going on. As well, we’d also (just!) done his hocks (as in, 2 weeks ago) and 2 weeks before that, his ankle (he’s got a pre-arthritic left hind ankle). So, we’d already taken care of the other possibilities. It’s a cascade with the hind end - once something goes, the next thing goes, etc.

After his rehab (once he was back in full work), I switched to low-level eventing and started riding with a great coach. We do a lot of dressage. She was able to help me get him straight, as with this issue he’d been crooked for so long compensating. Once he got straight, he could then get stronger. I think this is the key for him not needing to be injected in the SI before now. However, his “sound” is ever so slightly short-striding on the left hind (hardly noticeable), and I think it catches up with them over time.

If you want to do some investigative vet work before you commit to a bone scan, here’s what we did. OVC told me we did it “by the book” and they were thrilled - they didn’t have to do any further diagnostics after the bone scan as they were able to eliminate possibilities based on his history.

Blocks: start at the hoof, and block your way up the offending leg. I know for sure we did foot, ankle, high suspensory (this is one you’ll want to check too - I had one vet CONVINCED this was his issue as that’s what he moved like, but it wasn’t), hock, stifle (I think we did 2 compartments). This was over 2 appointments.

Bute test: I don’t recall the exact amount he was getting, but I remember it was a lot the first couple days (3 or 4 grams?). Zero improvement.

Xrays: we took shots of the stifle as one vet was leaning this way. Clean as a whistle! (He’d also previously been fluoroscoped when he came off the track, and clear then too).

Flexions: there is a high flexion the vet can do, but I was told it can’t isolate SI, just issues higher up (ie. hip, pelvis, SI if I remember correctly). But, a positive result can at least let you know something’s going on.

Lameness evaluations (lunging and riding): apparently it was worse when I was on (obviously I couldn’t see this part).

I did do the SI injections before I sent him for the bone scan (ultrasound-guided). He was a different horse for about 3 months - huge difference. Pushing evenly off the hind end, practically bouncing me out of the tack. But as he also had a soft tissue injury, this effect didn’t last long-term.

PM me if you have any questions or want any more info.

#5

I was going to say SI as well! Could be primary or secondary – probably secondary if he does have sore hocks. Could also be a hindlimb ligament causing him some distress. Hopefully x-rays will tell you what you need to know to treat him :slight_smile:

#6

Agree with SI issues as others have said. I always called this motion hock wringing, I’m assuming that’s what you mean? When they kind of twist with each step?

Good luck, hope you figure it out.

#7

Thanks everyone! I’ll try to get a video jogging in hand and share what he looks like.
@SolarFlare I’m going to PM you.

#8

I just wanted to clarify what I was describing in my post, as it’s different from hock wringing. The hock wringing is when they put the leg down, and you can see the twist at the hock.

What mine does - imagine if you had a fused knee and then try to run. Your regular knee would bend and allow you to bring your foot forward in front of you in a straight line. Your fused knee-leg would need to swing out (from the hip) so your foot could clear the ground, otherwise you’d trip and fall on your face. Like that but not so dramatic :smiley:

ETA - I really wish I had taken video, as it’s such a unique action (and feeling!). It’s very awkward and once you’ve felt it, it’s easy to distinguish.

#9

So he could paddle out with that one because he is loading the other leg more underneath. It could be hocks. Also very common pattern for SI as others mentioned. However, if he prefers to canter, I lean a little less towards SI and more towards hocks or some other issue in the back. But also depends on what the canter looks like too.

In the meantime while you wait for a different vet, if he wants to canter to warm up, let him.

1 Like
#10

@SolarFlare oh thanks for clarifying! I can’t say that I’ve ever seen that. Good luck and update us with what you figure out for your horse.

#11

It’s a circumduction of the one hind leg. Usually most visible on the outside of a circle but you could also see it in a straight line if not very subtle.

#12

The slight paddle in mine was a torn fetlock flexor tendon sheath, but it also came with some swelling and heat, not “omg” but noticable. There was no lameness, just the bit of paddle.

#13

Update!!

I’m not very anatomically savvy, so I’m apologizing in advance if I’m not explaining myself very clearly.

Vet was out out on Thursday. We took pictures of hocks and stifles. 8 shots in total I believe. He does have slight degenerative joint disease/arthritis in the hocks, but the “best place” for changes to be, which would be where the least amount of motion is in that joint. She had made a comment that his stifles were very “even” (good thing I guess!) but also had a bit of arthritis there as well, as well as some fluid built up. The vet also commented that considering the life he’s led his joints look pretty good.

We injected both stifles, and I have a short rehab program to bring him back. She said the best thing for him is going to be riding more consistently. She also strongly suggested hind shoes to maintain hoof angle and to help build muscle in the hind end. The hind shoes will be the trickier part, I’m a little leery putting him on individual turnout. Smaller field, no friends with him. That is going to have to involve a discussion with BO.

So that’s that! Expensive vet visit but at the end of the day I’m happy things are not really all that bad.

#14

I’m not sure how shoes are going to be better ta maintaining hoof angle, since they prevent any wear. I also don’t know how they help build muscle :confused:

Talk to your farrier. Assuming s/he is already doing the proper trimming job on the hind feet, get taught how to do some balanced touch-ups 1-2 times in between visits. That, better than anything, will help maintain angles.

#15
  • Hind shoes to maintain hoof angles and to act as weights to build hind end muscle
  • Shoes should be wide webbed and extend just past the weight bearing surface of his heals
That’s word for word from the post visit email. She compares putting shoes on hinds to a person wearing ankle weights. First I’ve ever heard of it!
#16

:confused: Nope, not buying it LOL

#17

Even if it were true about the hind shoes (I don’t buy it either though), if hind shoes mean a smaller turnout without friends, that means your horse will probably end up moving a lot less. Less movement equals less muscle development.

#18

I agree with this 100%. Just hard to argue with vet recommendations! Talked with BO and we came to the same conclusion.

#19

I think your vet would actually agree with it too if you explained your reasoning. :slight_smile:

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