Scars on hock area on both of my OTTB's??

[jacksorbetter]

Both of my OTTB's have scars on the outside of the hind legs just above the hock. Any ideas as to what this could be from? My vet doesn't know of any track practices that would account for this (like pin-firing etc...) It is in both hind legs in exactly the same spot on both horses. It is on the outside of the legs...so its NOT hock sores or anything like that. The area doesn't make contact with the ground when they're laying down. Thoughts?? I cross posted in the racing forum...

Here are pics:

4 pictures, 4 different hocks:

http://community.webshots.com/album/573548377rAbOnp

[Beasmom]

I think those are hock sores. My horses get the same kind of spots in the same places. I think it has to do with how the joint folds when they lie on the ground.

Not a big deal!

[middy]

My TB mare has them as well and I have always thought them hock sores (well in her cases calluses now). I thought she got hers when she was a Broodie because she came to me with them.

[jacksorbetter]

interesting! My vet thought they couldn't be hock sores... but perhaps she is wrong. I can see how that could happen by the way the joint folds... I'll have to take a look next time they are laying down. Thanks!

[ryansgirl]

Your vet really doesn't know :confused:. Ughhh. Anyways - yes hock sores - in general when the horse lays down and there isn't enough bedding or a cushion under that area, they get those sores. The skin kind of folds/stretches weird there when they lay down. My 29-year old TB has had them since before I got him - long before. Nothing to worry about unless they are open sores :no:.

:)

[Laurierace]

I had a foal born years ago who broke his pelvis during the birth. He was fine once he was up but had a horrible time actually getting up and struggled around alot. That made the bedding move out of the way so he ended up with huge sores where your horses have their scars. So you can see how a normal horse without enough bedding or whose bedding has shifted could get smaller versions of these sores pretty easily.

[Ainsley688]

Yep, hock sores. My mare has them, and they look exactly like your horses. When grooming her, I just check them to make sure they aren't getting bigger. No biggie!