​Hock Wringing In The Gaited Horse

​Hock Wringing In The Gaited Horse
By Gaye DeRusso
 
Wringing of the hock is a twisting motion in the leg that causes the hock to be pulled outward and looks like it is bowing out, and the foot will twist with weight on the outside of its foot.  It is a common problem in the Tennessee Walking Horse because it was in the older breed lines (foundation stock) and has been passed down from generation to generation. It is especially noticeable when the horse is on soft ground such as sand. 
 
It is best seen from standing behind the  horse and watching it walk away. Look at the hips as the horse walks then scan down to the hocks and watch if they get pulled outward and then watch to see if the foot also twists into the ground. If you have never seen it before it can be quite disturbing to see. Some of the horses have a mild wring and some will be severe. 
 
Although you see it mostly at the hock it is coming from higher up in the leg. If you watch closely, you will see there is rotation coming from the hip into the stifle that then transfers down the leg into the hock and fetlock. Most Tennessee Walking Horse people do not believe it is a conformation defect and many are use to seeing it so it has become the norm to some of those people. 
 
Why would this be bred into them. Well, many are just looking for  gait and not for conformation. So, they bred for the gait and many that wring are consider loose and swingy which they desire, and they can reach way under themselves when their hocks wring. Also due to the movement, many do not step on their front feet and forge. Lastly although it looks so strange, some of these horses are extremely comfortable to ride and surefooted. You would never think it from watching them, but I have ridden many. 
 
In many gaited horse breeds, the Tennessee Walking Horse has been introduced into their breeding lines if they wanted to get more stride, so even if your horse is not a Tennessee Walking Horse, it could have wringing of the hocks that was bred into it. 
 
You will see wringing in more extreme forms in the Padded Performance Show Horses as they are carrying an excessive amount of weight on their hindquarters which causes it to be obvious to see. 
 
Other reasons a horse will wring its hock is an unbalanced hind foot. If the shoer leaves the inside (medial) heel higher than the outside (lateral) side, it can cause the hock to twist outward. So, the inside heel needs to be taken down. If the hock is twisting inwards, then the outside heel needs to be taken down. So, it is very important with horses that twist their hocks to be balanced medial to lateral in their foot and to have a shoe that supports the side of their foot.
 
If the horse is weak or unconditioned this also can cause wringing of the hock and with strength training and conditioning the wringing will improve. If the horse cannot get traction with the foot this can cause the hock twisting, as they cannot dig into the ground to propel themselves further. So, a shoe with traction such as a rim shoe can help, this is why it is also more obvious to see when they are on soft ground. 
 
Other causes can be the horse is neurologic or has a neck or spine problem that causes it to be unbalanced and weak and those will not improve unless you treat what is causing the horse to be weak. 
 
This twisting motion can also be improved with body work and chiropractic visits. If the horse has weak quads and tight adductors it can cause its hocks to wring. So, there is not just one simple way to improve wringing hocks, if you care for your horse, you will want to work on all of it. 
 
Some shoers will want to put caulks or trailers on the shoe to decrease the wringing, but this causes other issues which are worse. Since it will stop the foot and hock from twisting there will be more force put on the horse’s stifle and SI joint. Barefoot in the beginning does not give much traction and therefore they may twist more. If you balance the foot and give more support with a good outside support on the shoe and some traction such as a rim shoe, then rehab the horse, in time you may get him to go barefoot again. But he may need shoes to help him get to that point. 
 
Although some horses have no problems at all due to  the wringing hocks, some will get a sore back, SI issues or hock pain. 
 
But we have horses in their 20's with twisting hocks and now some are getting SI and hock injections to make them more comfortable, but at 20 most horses are getting something to keep them comfortable. 
 
So even though this is disturbing to see if you have not seen it before, know that it was bred into some lines, know that it can be improved with proper balancing of the foot and conditioning of the horse and chiropractic or body work treatments. But keep in mind if your horse did not do this before and it has been in constant work and not weak, but it is starting to wring that it may have a neck or spine issue or a neurologic disease that is causing it and should be evaluated by your vet.