Bone spavin is osteoarthritis of the distal hock joints, one of the most common causes of hind limb lameness in horses. Early management can slow progression and maintain quality of life.
Bone spavin causes a progressive, painful hind limb lameness that significantly affects horses' willingness and ability to work. Horses with early spavin experience pain on hock flexion, which makes them unwilling to engage hindquarters properly under saddle. This is frequently misinterpreted as behavioural resistance, leading to inappropriate training responses rather than veterinary investigation. The welfare concern extends beyond pain to the risk of horses being worked through significant lameness because their gait changes are subtle. Appropriate management requires honest assessment of the horse's comfort level, willingness to modify work accordingly, and proactive pain management to prevent unnecessary suffering during the often slow progression to ankylosis.