Over the years, some judges in breed and showing conformation classes have been very negative about horses with sickle hocks, to the extent that those animals with very straight hocks have been chosen as winners. This is clear from the published photographs of champion show horses, particularly those of the Arabian, American Saddler, Boerperd, Friesian and even the European Warmblood breeds.
However, recent research conducted by British veterinarians has found a very strong correlation between straight hocks and severe damage to the hind leg suspensory ligament, mainly in dressage horses. These horses appear to be predisposed to proximal suspensory desmopathy (PSD), which is a cause of severe lameness in sport horses.
WHAT IS PSD?
PSD is the technical term for inflammation resulting from acute or chronic damage to the proximal suspensory ligament, leading to pain, swelling and lameness.
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