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Though puffy and unsightly, capped hocks typically do not cause lameness. But their development is usually a sign of another problem–a common stable vice.

Like most joints in the horse’s body, the hock contains synovial bursa, which are small, fluid-filled sacs. Bursas provide a cushion between the bony elements of a joint and between bones and soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments. The synovial fluid within bursas reduce friction within a joint, which paves the way for effortless movement. Repeated trauma causes one or more bursas to distend, and with distension comes an accumulation of fluid. This collection of fluid within the bursa gives capped hocks their characteristic swollen appearance.

A penchant for kicking stall walls is the classic cause of capped hocks, though they may also form from habitual leaning in the trailer. Protective boots might help certain horses, though a change in behavior through other management means is usually prudent.

Fervent stall-kicking typically coincides with feeding. If this is the case, thought should be given to ways to thwart this behavior. Confinement may be a contributing factor for some horses, so giving a horse a paddock with a run-in shed might resolve the habit, which would ease the trauma to its hocks while simultaneously providing an outlet for bottled-up energy.

When stalled, some horses are unnaturally antagonistic toward a neighbor. This is sometimes the situation between sexes; some mares are far happier being near other mares than geldings or vice versa. Move the kicker from stall to stall until an amenable situation is found. If this seems an unachievable goal, a standalone stall might have to be built. Provision of plentiful hay, with an eye on avoiding wastage, will keep a horse’s stomach full and any discomfort from gastric /ulcers away.

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