Can a pony be worked after fusion for a bone spavin?
My 4 yr old pony was recently diagnosed near a bone spavin in his lower hock. He is also coon footed in all 4 legs.
After his communal fuses, how much work will he be able to do? More specifically, will he be able to competitively jump and how will this effect his movement/mobility?
Your vet is the only one who can really answer the questions.
since the spavin is in the lower hock where here is not that much flexion to begin with, it should set jsut fine. however, the fact that he is coon footed contained by all 4 pasterns indicates that if you continue jump him the other hock will go too, and there may very in good health be suspensory issues on the front legs which if severe will leave him completely unridable. i would stop jumping him very soon, and save him as a trail/pleasure horse.
soemtimes, in young horses, coon footedness fixes it self, as they get hold of stronger. your horse being 4 already might preclude any add'l strengthening and setting upright of the pasterns. sorry i couldnt give a more promising outlook. probably your vet is really the person you should ask.
Answers: A horse beside coon foot has dropped fetlocks, or at best, weak fetlocks, and cannot be safely jump. The hock joint has to function effectively for jump, and a fused hock cannot do that. So, I don't have any reservations in answering your question in relation to jumping this horse. For his sake and yours, he should not be jumped. As for additional limitations following cohesive fusion, the vet will advise you.
