[BlueSpark]

Lets start off by saying I don't have any pictures.

A gelding at the farm has some soft swelling on his hocks. No body has noticed this swelling before. If you look at a hock and draw a diagonal line down from the point of hock, you hit a dip about 1-2" down. In this indent is where the swelling is. It reminds me of a fetock "wind puff". No heat, very soft. Its on the outside of both hocks.

He has been ridden on some trails, to the mountains and at one show for fun, where he did a trail class, a trot pole class and one baby cross rail class. Minimal jumping, ridden 3ish days a week by a light intermediate rider with a good seat. 12 years old, arab cross about 800lb with good conformation, nice bone and great feet.

Previous to this owner he was basically a pet.

So what causes this sort of thing? Should his owner be concerned?

 

[Horseychick87]

Bog Spavin is the swelling of the tibiotarsal joint, it doesn't cause lameness, but it is very unsightly and the synovial fluid is thickening. This is visible on the front of the hock joint. It can be a sign of joint disease. In older horses it can be caused from chronic straining of the joint capsule.

Thoroughpin is the swelling on both or either side of the hock joint due to stress on the deep digital flexor tendon sheath. This is caused by overwork, strain, trauma, over extension, or poor hock conformation.

For either of those you'd need a vet to come out, diagnose it and prescribe possibly an anti-inflammatory drug and a round of rehab for the horse and possible reevaluate it's current job or performance level.