| Just as a general rule (not specific to bog spavins), I would be
leery of buying a horse that is unsound (especially at a young age) for
anything other than light-moderate pleasure riding, or showing in
easier disciplines. I would think that competitive trail riding is
pretty strenuous and would require a horse that is fit, strong and
tough. Not only is the horse going 30-40 miles, but I imagine that
includes lots of hills. To properly prepare a horse for those rides
will require a regular training program, not casual riding a few
times/week. (I'm not talking just about preparing to win them, I'm
talking about preparing to complete them with your horse in one piece.)
Mary
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I'm not familiar with what 'bilateral' means when describing
a bog spavin. However, I have owned a horse who developed bog spavins
in both hocks from running wildly around in a muddy paddock. Both my vet
and vet books I referred to assured me that bog spavins were not a serious
injury whatsoever. Many people confuse the seriousness of 'bog spavins'
with 'bone spavins.' Bone spavins are serious, but bog spavins are not.
I have always considered a bog spavin to be about as serious as a wind puff
(ie NOT serious at all).
Melinda
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The following information is from VETERINARY TREATMENTS AND MEDICATIONS
FOR HORSEMEN:
Bog Spavin:
Bog Spavin is a distention of the tibiotarsal joint capsule of the
hock, and a cause of swelling on the anteromedial aspect of the hock
joint. Occasionally, smaller swellings appear on either side of the
posterior surface of the hock at the junction of the tibial and fibular
tarsal bones. Bog spavin does not usually cause lameness unless it is
accompanied by a chip fracture or osteochondritis dessecans (degeneration
of the cartilage).
Poor conformation can cause bog spavin, and a horse that is too
straight in the hock joint will often develope this condition. In
addition, quick stops and turns may lead to this condition in a horse
with satisfactory conformation. A vitamin/mineral deficiency or
imbalence of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, or vitamin D, can result
in bog spavin showing up in horses six months to two years of age.
TREATMENT:
If bog spavin is nutritional in origin, the horse's diet may be
corrected by the addition of a vitamin/mineral suppliment. The horse
should also be dewormed. After treatment, the bog spavin should
disappear within four to six weeks.
If the bog spavin was caused by trauma, the veterinarian will drain the
joint capsule and inject a corticosteroid. This therapy may be
repeated two or three times at weekly intervals, but should only be
done if radiography has revealed no bone changes. The corticosteroid
will reduce the synovial lining inflammation and decrease the amount of
excess synovial fluid produced. After the injection, an elastic
pressure bandage should be applied to the hock area. The horse should
receive three weeks of rest after the lameness has gone.
Chronic bog spavin does not usually respond to blistering, firing, or
the injection of counterirritants. In fact, the injection of an
irritant substance may lead to infectious arthritis. None of these
treatments should be used in conjunction with corticosteroid therapy.
The veterinarian may perform a synovectomy to inactivate the synovial
lining of the joint capsule.
Frequent massage, repeated several times daily for prolonged periods of
time, may help reduce the swelling.
Hope this helps.
Pat
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