The hock is one of the most complex and hardest-worked joints in the horse’s body, so it must be strong and sturdy to avoid injury. Much of what we ask our horses to do, whether high-performance dressage, reining, jumping, or simply going up and down hills on trail rides, requires strong and well-functioning hocks. In this article we’ll examine hock conformation, injury, ways to counteract joint stress, and how to treat injuries.

Conformation

David McCarroll, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, of Interstate Equine Services, near Goldsby, Okla., often treats athletic injuries in performance horses. He says hocks are under great stress because of the activities we ask the horse to do.

“The hock joint is analogous to the human ankle,” says McCarroll. “Because of the horse’s anatomy, the hock is always under a certain degree of flexion, enabling it to be a shock absorber to reduce effects of concussion