Hock sores

My grey appendix horse has hock sores. I have been putting an antiseptic ointment on them, although they are dry. One sore looks bloody, but dry. Neither sore looks infected. I have invested in some hock boots, does anyone else have any feedback on them? My horse is turned out several hours a day in rocky terrian, and is in his stall with woodchip bedding the rest of the time we are not working with him.
We arte tryiong a stronger antibitoitic ointment right now, even though they seem to not be infected (this was recommeneded by a equine masseage therapist). I have read duct tape works well too, not sure if with or without ointment? I am new to owning a horse .....advice is welcome!!

Howdy and welcome to the forum .

I wouldn't use duct tape because there is no give to it, especially for it to be so close to a joint. You might consider trying a bandage with vet wrap around the outside over the antibiotic ointment, but you always have to be very careful not to wrap it too tight where it would cut off circulation. I don't know much about hock boots so I can't say much about them.

How soft is the wood chip bedding? Is there any chance that it is abrasive enough to keep the sores inflamed and un-healing?

Also, what kind of rocky terrain are you talking about? Is is more like a desert setting where the ground is nothing but rocks or is it mostly grass with just some rocks mixed in? Only reason I ask is I am wondering if going through his paddock and removing rocks would be possible.

Thanks for your reply. I am a nervous new horse mommy! He is boarded, so we do not have complete control over how much bedding he has. He has wood-chip bedding, that we supplement as we can. The terrain is grass with rocks, typical to massachusetts (new england). I am hoping the boots compensate for the terrrian/bedding issues.