How Do They ‘Make’ Hocks?
By skyloft on Apr 9, 2008 in Training, Uncategorized
This may sound odd…but I am very curious as to how some trainers ‘make’ hocks on horses. I have a couple horses in the barn that snap up their hind feet and hocks like they were wearing park shoes- and they are barefoot. It isn’t a ‘natural’ movement. It is very mechanical or automated. Almost like when you first wrap up your horse in shipping boots and they over exaggerate the height of the steps they take. Def. man made. I have seen most devices used, and understand the basics of how and why- but not sure how this was done to these horses. I’m not looking to do this myself- just wondering what these horses had done to them.
Loading ...
Have you had your horses evaulated for stringhalt? Could be.
swevans3232 | Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
You can’t make good hocks - a horse either has them or it doesn’t. Hocks as well as front-end motion are a product of conformation. Shoing can only do so much and in fact can make matters worse. If what you’re seeing is in fact man-made, the fact that it looks “un-natural” is proof of that.
As far as stringhalt is concerned, it’s always a possibility I suppose, but the odds of 2 in the same barn having it? And stringhalt wouldn’t be even in the legs - one would be obviously off with the other normal.
ChillyOne | Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
I have 2 horses out of 9, that have even stringhalt in both hinds. Great hocks.
swevans3232 | Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
What is stringhalt? Never heard of it
erikarose | Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
A great reference for many equine related diseases/injuries is The Horse. This link has a great article on the specifics of stringhalt–for those that would like more information. http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=5263&kw=stringhalt
andreagraeff | Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
Thanks A!
erikarose | Apr 10, 2008 | Reply
No problem Erika—looking forward to seeing you at Mason Dixon!
andreagraeff | Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
Yea, it came up really quickly this year, as usual I guess. Are you goin to Southern States?
erikarose | Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
No, unfortunately I will not be doing Southern States, but I will be at Mid-A.
andreagraeff | Apr 14, 2008 | Reply
yay! I should be there
erikarose | Apr 14, 2008 | Reply
Wow lots of us going to Mason Dixon! We will have to cheer each other on!
amie9191 | Apr 14, 2008 | Reply
Haha everyone always needs a larger cheering section! We’re taking a yearling colt, and my project pony (I took him last year WP even though the weather only gave me 2 weeks of work before the show and it semi-disasterous lol) who I will be attempting to show WP again.
Note that I looooove a western horse, but have never even ridden one that was trained before, so this is a true adventure for myself and him as lol.
erikarose | Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
What classes in the western division will you be showing it?
We might be in the same classes!
amie9191 | Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
I know we are going to do the Limit class, and I will do either the aots or ladies not sure yet.
erikarose | Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
My horse isn’t limit anymore so I will cheer you on in that class :-)
I’ll be in the AOTS class…..not sure about the ladies class though.
amie9191 | Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
Hey maybe you can give me some tips! The only way to get better is to learn from those who know :)
erikarose | Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
LOL I don’t know how much help I will be since I’m self taught.
What do you need help with?
amie9191 | Apr 15, 2008 | Reply