Stiff Hocks and Knees
My husband and I have raised several hundred horses over the last 40 years, but we have never seen an issue like the one affecting my 4-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. He does not like to bend his knees and hocks. When I ride him, he feels like he is walking on stilts. He does not like to go downhill and seems most comfortable at a slow lope.
I had a vet check him out. He is not really lame, has no lumps or bumps, no sign of strains, etc., and he did fine on a flexion test. The vet said he would pass a pre-sale vet check. He has only had very light riding all his life and shows no sign of joint damage. We raised him and own his sire and dam and also his grandparents. All were very athletic and none had problems in their knees or hocks.
The horse gets worse when I feed him alfalfa and is markedly better when he is on grass hay. I read something about some horses being allergic to certain plant hormones in fresh hay, and I am beginning to suspect he might be allergic to the proteins in alfalfa. Is this possible? What might be going on here?
AThese signs could have several different causes, and a closer look at his history coupled with further veterinary examination should get you closer to a diagnosis. Has he had any other unrelated illness in his past? Has he been tested for hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP)? Can his joints be fully flexed without resistance? Has he always done this or did it come on suddenly, and does it get worse over time or stay the same? Answers to these questions will better direct your veterinarian as to which diagnostic tools to use
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